DALLAS — A North Carolina woman has been arrested in connection with a March shooting in Dallas that left her ex-husband wounded after he was lured outside with a fake pizza delivery.
Authorities said Marquita Marie Rice, 31, was taken into custody May 26 in Wake County, North Carolina. She is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and family violence and is being held on a $1 million bond while fighting extradition to Texas.
Rice and the victim were previously married but divorced after what officials described as a volatile relationship. Court records show disputes over finances and allegations of harassment in the years following their separation. Detectives believe lingering resentment may have played a role in the attack, which they described as carefully planned and deliberate.
On March 1, police said Rice used a pizza delivery to lure her ex-husband outside his home on Sedona Lane in the Redbird area of Dallas. Surveillance footage showed a suspect dressed in black waiting near the garage. When the victim opened the door, he was shot multiple times. Authorities said Rice fled, then returned to fire additional rounds. The victim was struck 18 times but survived after emergency medical treatment.
Detectives linked Rice to the crime through the taillights of her Chevy Trax, which was seen leaving the scene. The vehicle was later traced across multiple states, leading to her arrest.
“This is the first case I’ve seen where an ex-spouse carried out such a premeditated shooting,” said Detective Michael Bui, who credited the taillight evidence as critical to solving the case. Authorities emphasized the importance of coordination between local police, U.S. Marshals, and North Carolina officials in tracking Rice across state lines.
Legal experts noted that prosecutors could pursue attempted murder charges given the number of shots fired and the deliberate setup. Extradition attorneys said Rice’s decision to contest extradition is unusual in domestic violence cases, but may be a strategy to delay proceedings.
The case has sparked widespread attention on social media, where users expressed shock that the victim survived 18 gunshot wounds. Domestic violence advocacy groups highlighted the incident as a stark reminder of how unresolved marital disputes can escalate into extreme violence. Supporters of the victim have called for stronger protections against violent ex-partners, while others voiced outrage at the calculated nature of the attack.
Rice remains in custody in North Carolina as extradition proceedings continue. Dallas prosecutors said they are prepared to pursue additional charges once she is returned to Texas.
