In the late hours of a Friday night in Palmyra, New Jersey, a house party on the 500 block of West 5th Street turned into a scene of violence that claimed the life of 19-year-old Jonte Rice. On October 11, 2019, the young Black man from Willingboro was attending the gathering when gunshots erupted at approximately 11:15 p.m. Responding officers discovered Rice suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
He was rushed to Cooper University Medical Center in Camden, where he was pronounced dead.
The investigation into the death of Jonte Rice was launched by the Burlington County Prosecutor's Office and the Palmyra Borough Police Department. While authorities determined that the shooting was an isolated event and posed no ongoing threat to the public, the search for the person or persons responsible began. An autopsy was scheduled to be performed by the Burlington County Medical Examiner.
In the months that followed, the investigation continued, but no arrests were made. In an effort to generate new leads, the Burlington County Prosecutor announced in May 2020 that a $5,000 reward was being offered for information that would lead to the arrest and conviction of the individual or individuals responsible for Rice's death. Authorities appealed to the public, particularly those who were at the party, to come forward with any details that could help bring closure to Rice's family. Despite these efforts, the case remains unsolved, and no suspects have been publicly identified. The investigation is still considered active.
