Man charged with intentional second-degree murder in deadly Brooklyn Park crash

The man who was arrested in connection with the death of 65-year-old Paul Pfeifer in Brooklyn Park was officially charged on Wednesday.

Court records show Christopher Dewayne Rice, 46, has been charged with intentional second-degree murder for running over and fatally hitting Pfeifer, who was outside his home.

Police said Pfeifer was run over by an SUV in his driveway Saturday evening while he was grabbing his mail. The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office said he took his girlfriend’s vehicle and intentionally drove towards Pfieifer, someone he had previously harassed, while Pfiefer was getting mail.

According to the complaint, on June 12, police were sent to a hit-and-run on Scott Circle North. Witnesses who saw the incident play out told police that the victim was struck by a black SUV, whose driver them fled the area. The vehicle was then located just up the road and was determined to be Rice’s girlfriend’s vehicle. She didn’t know he took it at the time of the incident, according to the complaint.

Rice claimed to police he heard voices in his head, telling him to strike the victim.

Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman said, while the investigation is ongoing, that this case has not shown enough evidence to be a hate crime, as the victim killed was a member of the LGTBQ+ community. However, Freeman reiterated how a second-degree murder conviction would have more weight than a hate crime in itself.

Rice has been in and out of hospitals due to civil commitments and mental health treatment over the past few years, court records show.

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Neighbors told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS the incident Saturday was not the first issue they had with Rice and said there were some clear signs something wasn’t right long before the crash.

"He almost hit another person who lives down there, he almost ran a car off the road in our little townhouse community here," Jarynn Coker said. "There’s obviously something wrong with this guy and the last time he apparently, only a year ago, assaulted somebody."

5 EYEWITNESS NEWS has learned Rice was charged with aggravated robbery and assault but was found incompetent to stand trial.

His case was suspended and a judge later committed him to the Hennepin County Medical Center for mental health treatment until July of this year.

At some point, Rice was released from HCMC and appeared to be back living in the same neighborhood.

One court filing from Friday morning shows Rice’s case manager requested to have him recommitted.

The request was made just one day before Pfeifer was hit and killed in his driveway but didn’t go before a judge until Monday.

Rice’s first appearance will be on Thursday at 1:30 p.m.