On the evening of January 7, 2016, a tragedy unfolded on the northeast side of Indianapolis involving a 32-year-old African American man named Edward Darnell Rice Jr. Authorities were alerted to a violent disturbance near the Sahm Golf Course in the 9000 block of Doral Court shortly after 8:00 p.m. When officers from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department arrived at the scene, they discovered Rice unresponsive in the driver's seat of a white vehicle.
He had sustained multiple gunshot wounds, and despite the immediate response of emergency medical personnel, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators quickly determined that the shooting was likely not a random act of violence, though they struggled to identify immediate leads. The case became a difficult investigation for the homicide detectives, who canvassed the area and sought witnesses to piece together the events leading up to the fatal encounter. For years following the incident, the murder remained unsolved, with Rice's family, particularly his mother, making public pleas for anyone with information to come forward. As of the most recent available reports, no suspects have been publicly named, arrested, or charged in connection with his death, leaving the case cold.
Affectionately known as 'Lil' Eddie' by his mother and 'Rizzo' by his friends, Rice was originally from Fort Wayne, Indiana, but had relocated to Indianapolis to be closer to his young son, Juelz. He was remembered as a devoted father and a vibrant spirit who had a passion for music, rapping, and fashion. His death left a void in the lives of his two children and his extended family, who described him as a loyal and energetic man who was often the life of the party. He was eventually laid to rest in Concordia Gardens in his hometown of Fort Wayne.
