By Kelli Smith and Jamie Landers
https://www.dallasnews.com
The photographer who accused Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice of assaulting him at a downtown Dallas nightclub earlier this month will not pursue charges, Dallas police officials told The Dallas Morning News.
Dallas police spokeswoman Kristin Lowman confirmed Tuesday the “reporting party” signed an affidavit of non-prosecution, a sworn statement meaning they won’t participate in criminal proceedings. Lowman said the investigation is ongoing.
Officers were dispatched for reports of an assault about 2:30 a.m. May 6 to the Lit Lounge & Feu Nightclub in the 600 block of North Harwood Street, near Federal Street.
A police offense report obtained by The News said the photographer was at an after-hours party about 1:30 a.m. at the nightclub, but left after a short period. About 1:55 a.m., the “suspect” messaged the photographer on Instagram and asked him to return to the nightclub under the premise he was being hired to take pictures, the report said.
The photographer found the suspect, who told him to look at Instagram messages on his phone, according to the report. The report does not detail what the messages said.
As the photographer looked down at the suspect’s phone, the suspect punched him on the left side of his face, the report said.
The photographer went to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, a police spokesperson said. Law enforcement officials told The News the man had visible swelling on one side of his face.
The law enforcement officials have told The News that Rice, a former Richland High School and SMU star, is the alleged suspect. In the offense report, police redacted the suspect’s name, but a description matches Rice, including his age, height and weight.
Doubt was cast on the narrative on social media in the hours after the allegation first surfaced. Two people with ties to Rice with knowledge of the incident told The News a verbal altercation occurred at the club, but there was no physical contact.
Rice’s attorney, state Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, declined to comment when reached by phone Tuesday.
Rice is also suspected of being one of two drivers who triggered a multivehicle crash that injured at least seven people on March 30 in Dallas.
According to an arrest-warrant affidavit, Rice was driving 119 mph and SMU football player Theodore “Teddy” Knox was driving 116 mph seconds before the incident in the 6600 block of North Central Expressway, between Lovers Lane and University Boulevard.
Rice and four other men were seen on video leaving the scene after the crash. Police have said the men didn’t stop to see if anyone needed medical attention or provide any of their information.
Rice and Knox each face one count of aggravated assault, one count of collision involving serious bodily injury and six counts of collision involving injury. Both men turned themselves in to authorities less than two weeks after the crash and posted bond shortly after.
This story, originally published in The Dallas Morning News, is reprinted as part of a collaborative partnership between The Dallas Morning News and Texas Metro News. The partnership seeks to boost coverage of Dallas’ communities of color, particularly in southern Dallas.
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