Man charged in shooting at Minikahda Club

Updated: December 16, 2008 - 9:32 PM

He allegedly fired at the club's front door because he was angry that his membership had been suspended.

resize text
print
buy reprints

Tweet
share

email
Email share

your name

your email

recipients email

+ add a comment add a comment

A man who fired several shots at a private Minneapolis country club early Monday morning apparently held a grudge over his suspended membership, according to charges filed Tuesday in Hennepin County District Court.

Joseph Conrad Rice, 63, is charged with drive-by shooting and reckless discharge of a firearm, both felonies. He's accused of firing six shots in the front glass door of the country club.

According to charges: Police received a call at 2 a.m. from an employee of the Minikahda Country Club, 3205 Excelsior Blvd., reporting that he had spotted Rice outside the building holding a gun, heard multiple shots, then saw Rice drive away in an older red Ferrari. Police tracked Rice to his nearby address, where he came out carrying a bag. Police arrested him and seized the bag, which contained two loaded handguns, three gun magazines, two gun cases and gun cleaning accessories.

A Minikahda Club employee told police that Rice, a longtime member of the club, had recently been acting erratically, including threatening the lives of staff members, and that he had a "serious drinking problem," which led to the suspension of his membership. Shortly before 1 a.m. Monday, he arrived at the front door in a taxi and, demanded to be let in while appearing intoxicated, police said. When staff refused, Rice allegedly became angry and threatened to return and get the employee fired.

An hour later, the employee spotted Rice's car pull into the drive in the sports car and saw him bang on the door before the shots were fired.

Rice remains in the Hennepin County jail on $100,000 bail. It is his third arrest in a week. On Dec. 10, he was arrested for failing to pay his cab fare and was released on $50 bail. Two days later, he was arrested for making terroristic threats and released on $3,000 bail. Police said that incident happened when Rice would not leave the club and threatened police officers who tried to get him to leave.

ABBY SIMONS