Al C. Rice II, a 45-year-old man from Cleveland, Ohio, was remembered by a loved one as someone who provided encouragement when it was needed most. In a tribute, this person wrote, "Sir, you helped me discover a strength within myself that I didn't always recognize... and taught me to remain focused, make wiser decisions, and trust myself without being defined by the opinions of others."
Born on September 10, 1981, Al’s life was described in his obituary as a journey that, no matter its length, invariably leaves a ripple. His journey came to a sudden and violent end on a Friday afternoon, leaving a community to grapple with the loss.
The afternoon of October 2, 2026, was busy in the commercial district along Mayfield Road in Mayfield Heights, a suburb east of Cleveland. Around 4 p.m., Al Rice entered a Piada Italian Street Food restaurant located in the 6000 block of Mayfield Road, near Washington Boulevard. He was there to meet with two friends. Shortly after he arrived, another man, 24-year-old Dae’juan Moton of Euclid, also came into the restaurant. According to the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office, a brief verbal exchange took place between Rice and Moton inside.
Following the conversation, both men exited the restaurant and walked toward their respective vehicles in the parking lot. Witnesses and authorities stated that Rice then walked over to Moton’s vehicle. It was at this point that Moton allegedly produced a gun and shot Rice multiple times. As Rice’s two friends stood nearby, Moton then reportedly turned and fired his weapon in their direction. One of Rice’s friends, who was also armed, returned fire at Moton but did not hit him. The exchange of gunfire sent people scrambling for cover and prompted numerous 911 calls.
Police and emergency crews descended on the chaotic scene within minutes. Callers reported hearing as many as nine gunshots and seeing a man fall to the ground. Arriving officers from the Mayfield Heights Police Department found Al Rice in the parking lot with critical gunshot wounds. Paramedics transported him to Cleveland Clinic Hillcrest Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The parking lot was quickly cordoned off with police tape, and stray bullets were found to have traveled, with one striking the Tavern of Mayfield located across the street.
Mayfield Heights Police took three adults into custody at the scene. Two were later released without charges. The third individual, Dae’juan Moton, was arrested and charged. On October 5, Moton appeared in Lyndhurst Municipal Court, where a judge set his bond at $1 million on initial charges of aggravated murder and attempted murder. During the hearing, Moton’s defense attorney argued that his client was working for DoorDash at the time, had no criminal history, and that Rice had initiated the confrontation, suggesting the shooting was in self-defense.
The investigation was handled by the Mayfield Heights Detective Bureau with assistance from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI). On October 20, 2026, a Cuyahoga County grand jury returned an indictment against Dae’juan Moton, charging him with two counts of murder and four counts of felonious assault. Following the indictment, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael C. O’Malley issued a statement. “This is exactly the kind of senseless gun violence that continues to damage our communities," he said. "A man lost his life over a brief verbal exchange, and innocent bystanders were put in danger by stray bullets. Thankfully, no one else was hit.”
As of late October 2026, the case against Dae’juan Moton was proceeding through the Cuyahoga County court system, with an arraignment scheduled at the Justice Center. Private services were held for Al Rice II. The investigation remains open, and police have stated they do not believe there are any outstanding suspects. Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to contact the Mayfield Heights Detective Bureau at 440-442-2323.
