There is another southside murder to report tonight - but this one isn't the product of gang warfare.
This afternoon around 1:30, a well known businessman was killed inside his workplace by a robber. Oscar Rosado Sr., the owner of Rosado's Construction supplies at the junction of the Western Highway and Partridge Street was targeted by armed robbers for the third time since 1999. Rosado Sr. was shot in that 1999 robbery, and in 2006, he chased off the robbers with shots from his own gun. But today when the gunman grabbed his wife, they caught him off guard and killed the business owner inside his own store.
7News was on the scene shortly after it happened - and Jules Vasquez reports:...
Jules Vasquez reporting
When we arrived on the scene the ambulance was leaving - there was nothing they could do. Oscar Rosado Sr.'s body lay dead Inside the store - he had been shot to the head.
Police shot out looking for suspects. While the scenes of crime team scoured the area for the more than 15 rounds that were discharged.
Outside, shocked family members huddled in stunned disbelief.
His wife Elena told us that three suspicious young men came to buy nails- and then came back to return them:
Elena Rosado, Wife/Witness
"I don't think these young men wanted nails you know, I tell him, they are looking to steal. As I see them I know if they are thieves or not. So 4 minutes after they came in and they told me that the nail is not the size they wanted and they took it out of the bag. The same young man came and he change the nails, but the one who paid was standing up and I see (because we are face to face) his putting his hands in his pocket. And when I saw that I say this is a gun."
She stepped back towards the exit and that's when the robber pounced:
Elena Rosado, Wife/Witness
"When I started to walk further away, the young man come and he held me pointing the gun at me and my husband was at the door and so my husband told him "left she alone" and he told my husband to shut the "F" off. He told my husband to give him the gun and so my husband told him "What's wrong with you." My husband with his two hands hold the guy and pushed him and he fell on top of the Coke crates and that's when he fired the shot and my husband fell to the side, because the bullet went through his forehead. So now when I saw my husband fell, I say that he is dead because I saw blood on his face and the gunman bent down and search my husband. He didn't take my husband gun. The only thing he took was his wallet."
That's when Oscar Jr. came out from the office - and the shooter then drew the gun on him:
Elena Rosado, Wife/Witness
"He pointed the gun on Oscar Jr. when he came out and I told him to run at the back. Oscar Jr. threw himself down behind the counter and that's when the young man ran firing about 10 shots."
Some of those shots came from an unmarked police vehicle which was passing. They fired at the robbers who were fleeing through the cemetery.
The gunmen escaped in a hail of gunfire. We saw as many as 17 bullet markers.
Now, for this family - now in the throes of loss, it is the culmination of a 19 year history of violence:
Jules Vasquez, reporter
"Now ma'am in 1999 he was shot. In 2006 I believe he shot at someone."
Elena Rosado, Wife/Witness
"Yes, he fired shot at a robber."
Jules Vasquez, reporter
"You all have been at a target here before, but you never install security cameras, you never felt afraid. Explain to me how you continued even after those 2 serious events?"
Elena Rosado, Wife/Witness
"If you have security cameras they will still kill you. Maybe the next time they come and I see them putting their hands in their pocket, maybe I will be more faster than them, because I already know their tricks. So when they come now I will be ready for them, because I am not afraid for them."
Strong words, but much like what her husband boldly told us in 2006:
FILE: 2006
Oscar Rosado Sr.,
"...They thought I was an easy target but since I have been through this already, I spent a Christmas in the hospital, I am not an easy target. That is a message for them: I am waiting for them. I am not inviting them but I'll be waiting for them whenever they come."
And today, 12 years later, they caught this hard working business owner off guard when the robber grabbed his wife:
Jules Vasquez, reporter
"If you could see that person what would you say to him?"
Elena Rosado, Wife/Witness
"Well Jules, I will tell you God's truth, I would hold him. I would not tell him anything. I will just grab him and after I do what I have to do to him, I will call you to see what I have done with him. I will not tell him anything, because they kill senseless. My husband never deserve to die like that. So let's see what will come out of it, because nowadays I think it's us who have to come together and we have to take judgement by ourselves. We don't have to wait to go to court for judgement. That is the way I see it."
And that's why Elena Rosado says her business will remain open even after the loss of the patriarch:
Elena Rosado, Wife/Witness
"I am not afraid. I will not give up. God is with me every day. My husband was a good man. If he [robber] needed money and had ask my husband for $100, my husband would have given it to him."
Today, a priest came to perform the final rites for him - and then Oscar Rosado's body was taken away, he had been fearless right up to the very end:
Elena Rosado, Wife/Witness
"He always says he is with God and everyday he pray his rosary, every night he pray his rosary."
Rosado opened his business in 1994 - and it is family - run.
Tonight police have arrested one suspect and impounded a taxi that they believe was involved in transporting the robbers. As we understand it, the police went to detain the suspect shortly after the robbery at a nearby residence - where a dog was shot and killed when he charged the police.
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