A 40-year-old Berks County man was arrested at a Maryland truck stop less than eight hours after police said he stabbed his uncle multiple times during an altercation in front of the victim’s Cumru Township home late Monday afternoon.

James J. Rice was taken into custody by Maryland State Police without incident Tuesday shortly after midnight, Cumru police said.

The 61-year-old victim was taken to the Reading Hospital trauma center. The victim’s wife, relaying information from the attending physician, told police that he suffered about 10 stab wounds, one of which punctured the upper portion of a lung, requiring surgery and insertion of a chest tube, investigators said.

According to the probable cause affidavit:

The victim told police that Rice showed up in front of the residence in the 1700 block of Acorn Drive, located in a housing development off Grings HIll Road, and demanded his mail. His uncle told Rice to get off his property, and Rice pulled a knife and stabbed him before fleeing.

It wasn’t immediately clear if Rice, whose last known address was listed as the 700 block of Tamarack Trail in Cumru, had been staying with the victim and his wife previously.

A neighbor heard the commotion from his garage and went to investigate. He told police that he saw his neighbor and another man, later identified as Rice, fighting. It appeared to him that both men were exchanging punches.

He saw Rice swing at his uncle two more times before the older man collapsed onto the porch.

Rice fled the property and got into an older-model Volvo station wagon that had been parked facing the wrong direction on Timber Lane.

Another neighbor provided security camera footage that showed Rice arriving in the Volvo about 4:45 p.m. and parking on Timber. Rice is seen getting out of the vehicle and walking toward his uncle’s porch.

Audio from the footage captures his uncle yelling twice at Rice to get off his property.

Moments later, Rice is seen running from the residence, and his uncle is heard yelling for help.

Police arrived and found the victim alert and conscious but suffering from stab wounds.

The victim told police that he had been stabbed by Rice, his nephew.

Police asked the public for information on Rice’s whereabouts.

Meanwhile, Cumru detectives obtained information for Rice’s phone, which provided his location in Maryland.

That information was passed along to Maryland State Police, who went to a rest stop and took Rice into custody without incident.

Rice is awaiting extradition to Pennsylvania to face attempted homicide, aggravated assault and related charges.

Originally Published: October 21, 2025 at 1:10 PM EDT