John Rice wasn’t expecting trouble when he opened his front door on the afternoon of May 6 at his home on Smith Drive in Kennesaw, Georgia. A man stood there holding a cardboard box — looking every bit like a routine delivery driver. What happened in the next few seconds changed everything.
The visitor asked Rice to confirm his name. The moment Rice said yes, the man opened fire — shooting through the cardboard box he had been using to hide both his face and his weapon.
Rice was struck four times — twice in the left side of his chest and twice in his right arm. The shooter sprinted to his car and vanished from the neighborhood before anyone could react.
Somehow, Rice survived. Bleeding and in shock, he walked himself over to a neighbor’s house. That neighbor called 911. When first responders arrived, Rice was still conscious — and told officers exactly what had happened at his door.
Investigators pulled security camera footage from nearby homes and gathered witness accounts. The suspect’s vehicle — a Toyota Corolla — was identified and traced directly to 33-year-old Jacob Kevinsson of Marietta, Georgia. The connection? Kevinsson is the ex-boyfriend of Rice’s current girlfriend.
Kevinsson was arrested and booked into Cobb County Jail last Friday on multiple felony charges. He is currently being held without bond.
“He was trying to look like a delivery driver.”
— Kennesaw Police Officer David Buchanan
“This is a very unique case — relationships cause people to be emotional, and that’s most likely what occurred here.”
— Officer Buchanan
Rice briefly spoke to reporters after the incident, but declined to go on camera. “I’m getting by the best I can,” he said — a quiet statement from a man who nearly didn’t make it home that day.
What We Still Don’t Know: Police have not yet confirmed what type of firearm was used or how Kevinsson obtained it. It also remains unclear how long he had been tracking Rice — or whether any threats were made before the ambush.
What Happens Next: Kevinsson remains behind bars as the investigation continues. Prosecutors are expected to build a premeditated case given the level of planning involved — the disguise, the concealed weapon, and the deliberate identity confirmation before firing all point to a calculated attack.
Next time a package shows up at your door — Rice’s story is a chilling reminder that not every delivery driver is who they appear to be.
