John Rice survived four wounds after police say a visitor used a package to conceal a close-range attack.
KENNESAW, Ga. — Residents of a quiet Kennesaw street were left confronting an unsettling form of violence after police said a gunman carried a cardboard box to a neighbor’s door, confirmed his name and shot him four times.
John Rice survived the May 6 attack and reached a neighbor who summoned help. Police later arrested Jacob Forrest Kevinsson, 33, the former boyfriend of Rice’s current girlfriend. Kevinsson is accused of using the appearance of a delivery to get close to Rice before firing through the package. He remains held without bond while Rice continues recovering and the neighborhood awaits further court developments.
The aftermath began not at Rice’s doorway but at another home nearby. Wounded twice in the left side of his chest and twice in his right forearm, Rice crossed the short distance to a neighbor and asked for help. The neighbor called 911, and emergency responders arrived to find him conscious. Rice told officers that a person carrying a package had knocked at his residence around 10:30 p.m. He said the visitor asked him to verify his identity and then opened fire. His ability to leave the scene and describe the encounter gave police an immediate account, but it also brought the violence directly into the small network of homes around him as neighbors became witnesses, helpers and sources of security video.
Courtney Burdett moved with her 8-month-old baby into a home a few doors away after the attack. She learned that the street’s recent history included a shooting carried out under the appearance of an ordinary delivery. “Nothing ever happens here, it’s a quiet street,” Burdett said. Her description matched the setting that made the allegation stand out: a residential block where a person holding a box would not necessarily appear out of place. Burdett said the idea that someone could approach with a package and gain a neighbor’s trust was concerning. She was not present during the shooting, and police have not described her as a witness. Her reaction came later, as residents absorbed how the gunman allegedly reached the front steps.
Police say the attacker used the cardboard box both as a prop and as cover. Officer David Buchanan said the man held it up to conceal his face and was trying to look like a delivery driver. A firearm also remained hidden until the shots passed through the cardboard. Officials have not said the visitor wore a company uniform or displayed a label, scanner or delivery paperwork. No business has been linked to the crime. Instead, the alleged disguise relied on the setting and a short exchange that would sound routine at many homes. The visitor knocked, asked for Rice by name and waited for confirmation. Police say the request was not customer service but a final check that the intended target stood within range.
The sound of gunfire broke that appearance. Police have not disclosed how many shots the attacker fired, but four rounds struck Rice. No other injuries were reported. Authorities have not said whether bullets entered the home or damaged nearby property, whether anyone else was inside or how long the gunman remained on the porch. The attacker fled to a Toyota Corolla and drove away, investigators said. The departure gave neighbors and cameras another part of the event to capture. Officers collected statements and reviewed recordings, turning scattered views from private property into a route toward a suspect. Buchanan said security cameras have become vital in solving crimes, and police credited them with helping identify the vehicle.
The investigation eventually moved from the Smith Street neighborhood to Kevinsson, a Marietta resident. Police traced the Toyota to him and learned that he had previously dated Rice’s girlfriend. Officials have not detailed how the car was traced or whether they found it at Kevinsson’s home. They have not released images of the vehicle, the alleged disguise or the shooting. Detectives also have not said whether neighbors recognized the car from earlier visits or saw it circling before the attack. The available account leaves open how long the vehicle was parked nearby, whether a camera recorded its license plate and whether anyone else was in it. No second suspect has been announced.
Police arrested Kevinsson in early June, nearly a month after the shooting. He faces aggravated assault, aggravated battery and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. Authorities booked him into the Cobb County Jail, where he was held without bond. The arrest reduced concern about an unidentified gunman, but it did not answer every question for residents or Rice. Police have not identified the weapon, announced its recovery or said what became of the box and mask. They also have not released evidence showing how the attacker allegedly found Rice’s address or knew he would answer the door that night.
The relationship connection supplied the publicly stated theory about why Rice was targeted. Buchanan said the case was unusual and that emotions arising from relationships were most likely involved. Police have not provided a fuller account of the personal history. It remains unknown when Kevinsson’s relationship with the woman ended, whether he and Rice had met or whether any conflict had been reported before May 6. Authorities have not announced evidence of threats, stalking or previous attempts to approach the home. The woman has not been publicly identified and has not been accused of wrongdoing. Her place in the case, as described by police, is the connection between the accused man and the wounded man.
Rice has kept his recovery largely private. He briefly told a reporter that he did not want to appear on camera and was getting by as best he could. Police have not released information about the length of his hospitalization, the procedures he underwent or whether the wounds caused lasting limitations. His choice to speak only briefly leaves the known story centered on actions rather than emotions: he answered his door, survived the gunfire, reached a neighbor and gave police the information he could. That account helped launch the search that ended with an arrest. It may also become important testimony if the case reaches trial.
The quiet setting does not change the allegations, but it helps explain their effect. Residential deliveries often take place with little warning, and boxes are left near doorways throughout the day. In this case, police say the attacker turned those familiar details into concealment. The package blocked Rice’s view, while the request for a name brought him into an exchange with the visitor. The reported method required no forced entry. The shooting occurred at the threshold between a private home and the public street, an area visible to neighbors and cameras but close enough for a sudden attack. That combination gave the gunman access, then supplied investigators with witnesses and recordings.
The neighborhood’s role may continue as the case proceeds. Residents who saw the Toyota, heard the shots, assisted Rice or provided footage could be interviewed again or called to testify. Their cameras may be used to establish the timing of the car’s arrival and departure. Rice’s neighbor could describe his condition immediately after the attack, while medical workers could explain the injuries. Prosecutors may also introduce any physical or digital evidence obtained after Kevinsson’s arrest. A defense attorney would have the opportunity to challenge those accounts and the police identification. No plea, defense lawyer, indictment or next hearing was listed in the initial reports.
For now, the front steps on Smith Street are no longer an active crime scene, and Rice is alive. The legal case remains at an early stage, however, with the most detailed evidence still outside public view. Kevinsson remained jailed without bond as residents waited for the next court filing or hearing.
Author note: Last updated July 10, 2026.