A week after Allie Rice's murder, reward climbs to $50K for info on her killer
BATON ROUGE - A restaurant where slain LSU student Allie Rice worked says a reward for information on her killer has more than quintupled in a matter of days.
Staff at The Shed on Burbank Drive told WBRZ that it plans to give the money to anyone whose tip ultimately leads to someone getting criminally charged in Rice's killing.
Thursday afternoon, co-owner Chez Ciccone said contributions from another business helped balloon the initial reward from $10,000 to $37,500 in the span of a couple days. On Friday, Crime Stoppers — which is offering its own $5,000 reward — announced that The Shed's independent reward was up to $50,000.
"It tells us that there are people concerned in this city," Ciccone said Thursday.
Ciccone added that The Shed is also planning a memorial dinner for Oct. 13. Tickets will cost about $100 and will go toward the fund.
Rice, 21, was shot to death last week while she was sitting in her car at a railroad crossing on Government Street. Surveillance audio and witness accounts suggested someone fired roughly a dozen shots into the car while it was stopped by a passing train.
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Though she was found shot to death early Friday morning, police have not identified a suspect in her murder as of Tuesday, and the motive for the killing is still a mystery.
Police said Tuesday afternoon that the killing appears to have been a random act of violence.
Rice's father, also part-owner of The Shed, said he's grateful for the support his family has received during this time.
“Our family and friends and even people we don’t know have just been absolutely phenomenal through support, bringing food, financial donations. Just their attendance at the visitation," said Paul Rice.
East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore said federal agencies like the ATF, FBI and DEA are assisting the investigation.