Crime
28-Year-Old Wynton Qushawn Rice Charged with Raping Woman at Knifepoint in Tuscaloosa Parking Deck Restroom
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — A 28-year-old Tuscaloosa man has been arrested and formally charged in connection with the alleged sexual assault of a 52-year-old woman in the early morning hours of Saturday at a downtown parking facility.
According to court records made public this week, Wynton Qushawn Rice has been charged with first-degree rape, first-degree sodomy, and second-degree assault.
The victim reported to authorities that she was using the restroom at the Tuscaloosa Transit Authority parking deck between 4:00 a.m. and 4:30 a.m. when an unknown man, later identified as Rice, forced his way into her bathroom stall while armed with a knife.
The victim told investigators that the suspect demanded sex and physically assaulted her, causing a laceration to one of her fingers.
She stated that Rice initially attempted to rape her within the small stall but was unsuccessful due to space constraints.
He then forced her to move to a larger, handicap-accessible stall, where he allegedly raped her and compelled her to perform oral sex.
Charging documents indicate that surveillance footage reviewed by investigators showed Rice entering the women’s restroom at 4:02 a.m. and exiting approximately 26 minutes later.
During an interview with detectives, Rice reportedly provided inconsistent statements. Initially, he claimed he had never been at the location.
He later said he had entered the bathroom but was confronted and forced to leave by a woman inside.
Eventually, he admitted to remaining in the restroom but denied having any sexual contact, stating he was only using the facilities.
Later in the interview, Rice told detectives he encountered a woman he knew only by a nickname and offered her all the cash he had—$3—in exchange for oral sex.
He claimed she agreed and performed the act.
Rice was taken into custody on Sunday and booked into the Tuscaloosa County Jail. On Wednesday, a judge set his bond at $100,000.
The investigation is ongoing.
Authorities have not disclosed whether additional charges may be filed.
MT. JULIET, Tenn. — Authorities have identified two victims killed during an active shooter incident at Cedar Creek Marina in Mt. Juliet late Friday night.
The suspect, identified as Gary Haley, a convicted felon with an extensive criminal history, is deceased following an officer-involved shooting, officials confirmed.
Mount Juliet Police officers were dispatched at approximately 9:30 p.m. Friday to the Cedar Creek Marina, located in the 9000 block of Saundersville Road, after receiving reports of a man threatening another individual on the docks.
Due to the active shooter report, a shelter-in-place order was issued for the surrounding area as a precaution.
Upon arrival, officers located an adult male suffering from a gunshot wound.
The victim was later identified as Robby Brogdon, who was transported to a local hospital for emergency medical treatment.
Despite life-saving efforts, Brogdon later succumbed to his injuries.
Investigators determined that the suspected shooter had retreated to a boat within the marina and had barricaded himself inside.
The standoff continued for several hours as officers secured the scene and attempted to resolve the situation safely.
At approximately 1:00 a.m. Saturday, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) reported that the suspect engaged responding officers and fired shots at them under circumstances that remain under investigation. Officers returned fire.
The suspect, Gary Haley, was later found deceased aboard the vessel.
During the course of the response, officers also discovered a second adult male victim, Nathan Jones, who had been shot by the suspect.
Jones was pronounced dead at the scene.
No law enforcement officers were injured during the incident.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has assumed responsibility for the investigation, which includes a homicide, an attempted homicide, and an officer-involved shooting.
TBI agents are actively conducting interviews, collecting evidence, and working to establish a comprehensive timeline of events.
Upon completion of the investigation, findings will be submitted to 15th Judicial District Attorney General Jason Lawson for review.
Authorities stated that additional information will be released as it becomes available.