Police release video to ID suspect in WSU cop’s death
Detroit — Police officials released on Thursday new footage of a suspect wanted in the fatal shooting of Wayne State University police officer Collin Rose.
Police are asking the public for help in identifying the suspect, who is shown riding on a small bike just before the shooting in one of the videos. Another video shows the suspect running.
“We are trying to catch a cop killer,” Detroit Police Chief James Craig said Thursday. “We’re still very active in the investigation, trying to find a cop killer.”
The release of the video comes about a day after authorities announced charges against a man originally thought to be behind the crime — DeAngelo Davis — were dismissed and he was released from jail.
Police arrested Davis, 31, on Nov. 25. He had been charged with first-degree murder, felony firearm, murder of a police officer, felony firearm and felon in possession of a firearm.
Craig said Thursday the police’s investigation had led them to Davis.
“We had probable cause to arrest him, and he was charged on probable cause,” he said. “But the investigation never stopped, and as it continued, we got new information. We followed the evidence and the investigation took a direction away from the suspect we had in custody.”
For example, Craig said Davis has a distinctive gait, a limp when he walks, and the suspect they are looking for does not.
He also said Davis and the suspect police are searching for both had contact with the bicycle in the video footage released Thursday.
“We may talk to him again, but as a witness,” Craig said. “We may want to have another conversation with him.”
A $17,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the suspect in the case is being offered. Crime Stoppers of Michigan announced Friday it is offering $2,500 in reward money leading to an arrest for Rose’s murder. The tips will remain anonymous.
Rose, 29, was shot in the head Nov. 22 while investigating a series of thefts from vehicles near Lincoln and Brainard in Detroit’s Woodbridge area. He died Nov. 23 from his injuries.
He’s the only Wayne State officer killed in the line of duty. Rose had been a WSU police officer since 2011.
Anyone with information about the suspect or the shooting should call Crime Stoppers of Michigan at 1-800-Speak-Up.
cramirez@detroitnews.com
Staff Writer Oralandar Brand-Williams contributed