PARACHUTE, Colorado – Garfield County sheriff’s deputies arrested Nathanael Rice, 26, on Jan. 27 in the shooting death of Jeremy W. Caywood, 30, of Battlement Mesa, the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office reported on Monday.

Rice is being charged with felony manslaughter, according to the sheriff’s department. If convicted of the charge, Rice faces up to six years in prison with a mandatory parole of two years, according to state statutes.

Caywood died on Jan. 14 after being shot with a pistol at a private residence located between Rifle and Parachute, according to authorities.

An eyewitness described the shooting as accidental, according to a community source close to one of those who were present at the incident. Both the eyewitness and the source declined to be identified.

Sheriff’s deputies and an ambulance were called to the residence at 4:09 a.m. that Saturday, according to the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office press log, where the witness to the shooting reported that there were several people present.

No arrests were made on the day of the incident, but the sheriff’s office opened an investigation that led to the arrest of Rice at his home in Parachute 13 days later.

Rice was is described as “cooperative” on the booking sheet written up at the Garfield County Jail.

According to information on file at the Garfield County Jail, Rice was booked into the facility at shortly after 4 p.m. on Jan. 27.

Rice was released the same day after paying a bond of $11,000, and is due in court on Wednesday.

jcolson@postindependent.com