UPDATE: Woman who drew gun in local restaurant facing 5 charges

BLAIRSVILLE, Ga – Rebecca Rice, 46, frightened patrons of Copeland’s Burgers & Southern Eats after she reportedly brandished a gun at restaurant employee on the evening of Monday, Feb. 24 at 6:30 p.m.

She allegedly pointed the gun at a restaurant employee, but she was immediately subdued by “approximately three” restaurant customers until authorities arrived. No shots were fired, nor any injuries reported, according to the BPD.

As of Feb. 25, five charges were issued against Rice – two felonies and three misdemeanors. She is facing aggravated assault (16-5-21), possession of firearm or knife during certain crimes (16-11-106), pointing or aiming gun or pistol at another (16-11-102), cruelty to children third degree (16-5-70 d), and public drunkenness (16-11-41). Bond hasn’t been set at this time.

Cruelty to children in the third degree part D, according to the O.C.G.A., occurs when the “primary aggressor” allows a child under the age of 18 to witness forcible felony, battery, or family violence battery, has knowledge a child under the age of 18 is present or “sees or hears the act, commits a forcible felony, battery, or family violence battery.”

Currently, the reasoning behind the incident is unknown. She was reportedly intoxicated at the time of the incident. Rice also had multiple firearms on her person. In a press release issued by the BPD, they stated:

On Monday, Feb. 24, at approximately 6:30 p.m. Officers of the Blairsville Police Department responded to Copeland Restaurant located at 17 Merchants Walk in response to a 911 report of a female in the restaurant with a gun.  Our dispatch further advised that other patrons had disarmed the female.

Upon our arrival Officers observed a female, late identified as Rebecca Rice of Blairsville, being detained by several people. Approximately three other patrons immediately took Rice to the ground and disarmed her before any shots were fired.

Rice was taken into custody by Officers of the Blairsville Police Department at this time without further incident.  This incident remains under investigation and warrants related to this crime are pending upon completion of this investigation.

This story is developing and Fetch Your News will update as more information become available.