Chiefs WR Rashi Rice under investigation for assault after incident at Dallas nightclub: reports

Kansas City Chiefs receiver Rashi Rice is under investigation by the Dallas Police Department for allegedly beating up a photographer inside a Dallas nightclub Monday morning, according to a report by WFAA-TV.

Police interviewed witnesses about the alleged incident that occurred around 2 a.m. Monday at Lit Kitchen and Lounge in downtown Dallas, according to the report. Two police officers arrived at the nightclub at about 3:33 a.m. for a “major disturbance call,” according to a police report on the incident.

A police spokesman said the 29-year-old man was injured and taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The athlete. As of Friday evening, police had not filed any charges and no arrests had been made.

At approximately 1:30 a.m. Monday, the victim told police he was at the nightclub attending an after-hours party, believing Rice wanted to hire him to take photos of the event. At approximately 1:56 a.m., the victim, who left the nightclub, told police that Rice sent him a message on Instagram asking him to come back, according to the incident report. When the victim found Rice at the nightclub, he told police that Rice punched him in the left side of his face while he was looking at Instagram messages on Rice’s smartphone. While the rest of the report is redacted, the victim appears to have a minor injury of swelling to his left jaw.

Chiefs declined to comment on the situation Tuesday. Rice’s attorney, Texas State Sen. Royce West, declined to comment Friday.

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What’s next for Rashi Rice: investigation, charges and possible suspension

The Chiefs selected Rice in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft, moving up nine spots in a trade with the Detroit Lions to acquire him.

According to league sources, multiple teams removed Rice from their recruiting boards after learning of an alleged incident he was involved in while he was a student at SMU. During the alleged incident, several shots were fired into an empty car belonging to former SMU basketball player Kendrick Davis during one of the school’s home games, according to league sources. Two teams collected information that led them to conclude that Rice believed Davis was involved with his girlfriend, according to league sources. The incident was not reported to SMU authorities.

Three teams said this, according to league sources The athlete They removed Rice from their draft board due to concerns about his character. Another team had Rice on their board, but that team’s evaluation of him included several marks that lowered his value compared to other receiver prospects.

The Chiefs were aware of the alleged incident, according to a league source.

Less than a week after turning himself in to police in Texas, Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashi Rice is back at work.

Rice joined his teammates on Monday for the start of the Chiefs’ volunteer offseason program.@By Nate Taylor He has more ⤵️https://t.co/RWewyqvTJM pic.twitter.com/BuZubsXjYp

– The Athletic (@TheAthletic) April 15, 2024

In late March, Rice was involved in a multi-vehicle crash in northeast Dallas, according to police. The police said that the driver of the Lamborghini sports car was the one who caused the accident, which led to a serial collision between four other cars. Police said Rice and Theodore Knox, who works at SMU, fled the scene.

Rice, 24, faces one count of aggravated assault, one count of collision involving serious bodily injury and six counts of collision involving injury. West confirmed that Rice turned himself in to the Glen Heights Police Department in Texas. Rice was booked into the regional jail in DeSoto, records show. He was released on $40,000 bail.

Even if Rice is not convicted, or accepts a plea deal, he will likely be suspended for several games next season by the NFL for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. Through the collective bargaining agreement with the NFL Players Association, the NFL and Commissioner Roger Goodell have broad disciplinary authority. League policy states that NFL players and employees “are held to higher standards and must conduct ourselves in a manner that is responsible, promotes the values ​​of the NFL and is lawful.”

Regarding the Rice incidents, the policy defines one violation as “conduct that constitutes a real risk to the safety or well-being of another person.”

Rice and Knox, the driver of the Corvette involved in the collision, are being sued for $1 million by two of the crash victims. According to the lawsuit filed in Dallas County, Texas, Irina Gromova and Edvard Petrovsky, who were in two separate vehicles involved in the accident, suffered serious injuries. The injuries include “brain trauma, facial lacerations requiring stitches, multiple bruises to the body, disfigurement, internal bleeding and other internal and external injuries that can only be fully detected during the course of medical treatment.”

In an Instagram story posted on April 3, Rice said he took “full responsibility” for his role in the incident.

“I met today with Dallas Police investigators regarding Saturday’s incident. “I take full responsibility for my role in this matter and will continue to cooperate with necessary authorities,” he added. “I sincerely apologize to everyone affected by Saturday’s incident.”

Less than a week after turning himself in to police, Rice returned to work. He joined his teammates last month to start the Chiefs’ offseason volunteer program. He participated in video meetings led by trainers.

“Certainly, I’m very disappointed about the situation with Rashi and how it’s unfolded,” Chiefs owner Clark Hunt said two weeks ago. “It’s an active legal case, so I can’t comment on it any further. He’s still a member of the Kansas City Chiefs, and I think (coach) Andy (Reid) mentioned that we’ll evaluate that as we go forward.”

Rice grew up in North Richland Hills, a suburb of Fort Worth, and played college soccer at SMU.

As a rookie, Rice emerged as the Chiefs’ top receiver last season, racking up 79 receptions and 938 receiving yards in 16 regular-season games. He added 262 yards and 26 receptions in four playoff games en route to the Chiefs’ Super Bowl victory.

(Photo: Jamie Squire/Getty Images)