One of the main eyewitnesses to the fatal shooting of designer Trevor Rose has failed to positively identify the shooter during an identification parade at the Police Headquarters, Eve Leary.
Latoya Towler, the mother of Rose’s two-year-old son who was with the designer at the time of his demise had described the shooter to the police and based on the description given, two men were arrested.
Crime Chief Seelall Persaud on Wednesday confirmed that the two men were taken into custody, but after Towler could not identify any of them, they were subsequently released. He added that the second witness, Troy Nieunkirk, who was driving the car in which Rose was travelling, showed some reluctance when he was called to view the ID parade and did not show up.
It was not clear why he was reluctant to show up, but the crime chief stated that if they were going to crack this case, the police force would need as much cooperation as possible from the two witnesses. The police are continuing their investigations and are optimistic that they will be successful soon.
Rose, 32, of Lot 232 East Street, North Cummingsburg, Georgetown, was executed two Sundays ago when a lone gunman opened fire on the car he was in near the traffic lights at Eccles, East Bank Demerara.
Nieunkirk and Towler were also injured. Towler was reportedly shot to the buttocks while Nieunkirk sustained a gunshot wound to his left arm.
It was reported that the father of eight was heading into the Eccles Housing Scheme to drop off Towler, and as the vehicle approached the traffic lights, another motor car, which was heavily tinted, drove up alongside theirs.
Its driver then taunted Nieunkirk about the way he was driving, and an argument ensued during which the driver exited his vehicle and opened fire.
Nieunkirk managed to drive away and went straight to the Georgetown Public Hospital, but it was too late for Rose.
A post-mortem performed on the body of the designer revealed that he was shot five times with a .9mm pistol. It is believed that Rose, Nieunkirk and Towler were trailed as they left an eatery in the city.
