Jacob Kevinsson is held without bond as key evidence and a court schedule remain undisclosed.
KENNESAW, Ga. — A 33-year-old Marietta man remained jailed without bond after police accused him of hiding a gun behind a cardboard box, posing as a delivery worker and shooting his former girlfriend’s current boyfriend four times.
Jacob Forrest Kevinsson faces aggravated assault, aggravated battery and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime in the May 6 attack on John Rice. The accusations describe a deliberate doorstep encounter in which the gunman first confirmed Rice’s identity. No plea, defense attorney or next court date was listed in the initial public reports, leaving much of the coming legal process unresolved.
The charges divide the alleged conduct into several parts. The aggravated assault count concerns the armed attack police say placed Rice in immediate danger. The aggravated battery allegation centers on the injuries caused by four bullets, including two wounds to the left side of his chest and two to his right forearm. The firearm count alleges possession of a gun while another felony was being committed. Prosecutors will have to prove every required part of each charge, including Kevinsson’s identity as the attacker. An arrest warrant and police statements establish probable cause for an arrest, not guilt. Kevinsson is presumed innocent unless he enters a guilty plea or a judge or jury convicts him after the evidence is tested in court.
The state’s account begins at about 10:30 p.m. outside Rice’s home in the 2000 block of Smith Street. Police say a man wearing a mask approached with a cardboard box positioned to hide his face. When Rice opened the door, the visitor asked him to verify his name. After Rice confirmed who he was, the man fired through the box, according to the warrant. That alleged identity check may become an important part of the prosecution’s argument about intent. It suggests the shooter was not simply firing at whoever happened to answer. Authorities say the attacker had come for Rice, used a disguise to reach the doorstep and waited for confirmation before opening fire.
Rice survived and became the first witness in the developing case. He walked to a neighbor’s house after being shot, and the neighbor contacted emergency services. Officer David Buchanan said Rice was conscious when responders arrived and could describe the person who had knocked on his door with a package. His statements could be used to establish the gunman’s conduct, words and appearance, subject to the rules governing testimony and evidence. Public reports do not say whether Rice saw enough of the attacker’s face to identify him directly. They also do not say whether he recognized the voice, clothing, walk or other features. Rice later declined an on-camera interview and said only that he was recovering as best he could.
Prosecutors may also rely on evidence gathered away from the doorstep. Police said neighbors and security cameras helped identify a Toyota Corolla as the getaway car. Investigators traced the vehicle to Kevinsson, though they have not publicly described the exact records or images used to do so. The strength of that link could depend on whether video shows a readable license plate, a driver, a distinctive feature or the vehicle’s path before and after the shooting. A defense lawyer could examine the quality of the recordings, the timing shown on each camera and whether other similar cars were considered. Police have not released the footage, and no public court filing has yet provided a fuller technical description.
Physical evidence could supply another part of the case, but officials have revealed little about it. They have not identified the firearm, said whether it was recovered or announced test results involving bullets, cartridge cases or gunshot residue. The cardboard box itself could be significant if detectives found it. Damage to the package might show the number, direction or spacing of the shots. Fibers, fingerprints or DNA also could become relevant, depending on the box’s condition and who handled it. Police have not said whether the gunman discarded the package near the home, carried it to the Toyota or destroyed it later. The mask and clothing described by police have not been reported as recovered.
The alleged relationship motive may help prosecutors explain why Rice was selected, but motive is not the same as proof of identity. Police identified Kevinsson as the former boyfriend of Rice’s current girlfriend. Buchanan said relationship emotions most likely contributed to the event. Authorities have not released a detailed history involving the three people, however. No public report describes previous threats, fights, restraining orders or police complaints. Investigators have not said whether Kevinsson sent messages about Rice, searched for his address or followed his movements. The woman has not been publicly named or accused of assisting anyone. Her testimony could clarify the relationships, prior contacts and whether Kevinsson had reason to know where Rice lived.
The absence of a listed next court date leaves several possible procedural steps ahead. Prosecutors could seek an indictment from a Cobb County grand jury, and the defense could ask a judge to review Kevinsson’s detention or the evidence supporting the charges. Future filings may identify his attorney and show whether he enters a plea. If the case moves toward trial, both sides could litigate search warrants, statements, identification procedures and the admission of camera recordings. The defense also would gain access to evidence through the discovery process. None of those steps determines the outcome by itself. They set the terms for what evidence a jury may eventually hear and how the parties may argue about it.
Questions about planning may affect how both sides present the case. The police description includes several actions that appear organized: obtaining a box, wearing a mask, concealing a firearm, going to Rice’s address at night, asking for his name and leaving in a waiting car. Prosecutors may argue that those actions show preparation and a focused purpose. The defense could dispute who performed them or challenge inferences drawn from incomplete evidence. Officials have not said how far Kevinsson lived from Rice, when the Toyota entered the neighborhood or whether camera footage shows anyone preparing the disguise. They also have not disclosed phone-location data, online searches, purchases or communications that might support or weaken an argument about planning.
Rice’s medical records could document the aggravated battery allegation and explain the extent of lasting harm. Police have disclosed the location of the wounds but not the surgeries, complications or rehabilitation involved. His ability to walk to a neighbor’s house does not by itself show that the injuries were minor; gunshot wounds to the chest and arm can require extensive treatment even when a person remains conscious. Medical professionals who treated Rice may be called to explain his condition, while photographs, scans and records could be introduced under court rules. As of the latest public update, Rice was alive and recovering. He has not offered a detailed public statement about the attack or its effects.
Outside court, the method of approach has shaped neighborhood reaction. Courtney Burdett, who later moved a few doors away with her infant, said the street was normally quiet. The idea that a person could carry a box to a home and gain a resident’s trust concerned her. Her comments do not establish who committed the shooting, but they capture why the case drew attention beyond its legal charges. The alleged disguise did not require a marked vehicle or company uniform. Police say a plain box, a covered face and a familiar doorstep exchange were enough to place the shooter close to Rice before the weapon became apparent.
The next public milestone may be a hearing, indictment or newly filed court record. Until then, the case rests publicly on the warrant, Rice’s account, neighborhood evidence, the Toyota and the alleged relationship connection. Kevinsson remained in the Cobb County Jail without bond, and no trial date had been announced.
Author note: Last updated July 10, 2026.