Who is Paul Rice? Slain Allison Rice’s dad warns LSU students to ‘stay in groups’ after Madison Brooks murder
BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA: Paul Rice, father of Alison Rice, a 21-year-old LSU student who was shot dead in September 2022 opened up after the death of Madison Brooks. The grieving father asked for a "cultural change" within the community.
According to Daily Mail, he said, "Crime is everywhere, it's becoming rampant, and despite our leaders and people trying to band together to make a change these things are still happening. It is not safe. Enough is enough. It ultimately comes down to a culture change that is needed here. There are segments of our population and areas of our town that need to be addressed."
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He continued, "There has been a history for many years in that area where the bar is, there have been a lot of fights and drug activity in the area. A lot of bad things have happened, and a lot of the bars have reputations for serving underage customers as well. That is one of the things that has come to light in this particular case, three of the people that have been arrested – plus Madi – were all underage and that bar served them alcohol. There is a reputation for it there."
Who is Paul Rice?
Paul claimed, "'Ultimately, Allie and Madi have different circumstances but the same outcome. As parents, we send our kids off to school as young adults and expect them to have the opportunity to mature and become responsible adults, set forth on a path to great careers, but tragically that has been taken from us." He then added, 'It is something that is very hard to get over. Allie's murder occurred in an area that isn't technically the LSU campus, it was a couple of miles away. But Madi's is a direct walking distance from campus and it's targeted to LSU students. He also noted, "This incident has exposed more of the type of issue that we have here in Baton Rouge, and in particular with violent crime – whether it's gun related or not."
Further, Paul said, "They need love and attention, they need something whether it's counseling, or something to keep the kids in school we just have to find a way to get answers to how to stop the problems continuing. I haven't spoken to Madi's parents, but I would tell them that I don't have to imagine the pain that they're in, it is what we have felt for the last four months. It's horrific what has happened to her, and anything we can do to be of support to them we are ready and willing."
Paul's message to LSU students
He said to the outlet, "My main message to these college-age youth, is that they have to understand the need to travel in groups and stick with each other – it is not safe otherwise. I saw a great post on social media that said women would go to the bar together, leave together, go to the bathroom together – and they would not let anyone get separated or they would really look out for each other."
Paul claimed, "I really think that's something that needs to be pushed again, stay in groups to stay safe. It's got to be a wake-up call to these students here that you may think you're safe going somewhere that you go to all the time, but you don't know who is waiting to attack you and waiting to prey on you. Look out for your friends. And it isn't just a girl problem, guys need to stick together too."
How did Alison Rice die?
Rice was a 21-year-old marketing major student at LSU. She was shot multiple times while she was in her vehicle on September 16 while she was waiting for one of her friends in her vehicle, as per Daily Mail. No suspect has been arrested by the police so far in this case. Meanwhile, her death was the 74th last year in the East Baton Rouge Parish and came after a string of crimes against LSU students. Though the family is still offering a $50k reward for anyone with information to come forward, no suspect has been identified by the police.
According to People, when Rice died, her father, Paul said, "She was loved by everybody. She had no enemies. Her friends had loved her, dearly." At 4.45 am, when the police were knocking on his door, Paul realized something was terribly wrong. He said, "They kept mentioning Allie's name. Finally, I asked, 'Well, is Allie okay?' And, that's when the policeman said, 'No sir, she's with the coroner, right now. She didn't make it.'" Paul said, "My heart sank to my feet. I was in complete shock." Five days later, Paul buried his daughter in a Baton Rouge cemetery. He said, "I don't think she truly figured out what her true passions were, to be honest. She was one that could change pretty often, but she was a passionate child."She would learn the music that I liked so that she could sing it in the truck with me while we were traveling. If she didn't hear from me in a couple of days, she's calling me to let me know that she's okay and making sure that I am,"