…after police release photo
Police yesterday released a photograph of wanted man Tyrone `Cobra’ Rowe and updated a previously issued wanted bulletin with last known addresses and a date of birth.
This latest development comes after repeated questions about the identity of the alleged teenaged gang leader implicated in a murder and a series of armed robberies in the city and its outskirts.
In the updated wanted bulletin yesterday, police said that Tyrone Kacey Rowe called `Cobra’ was last known to be living at Lot 268 Independence Boulevard, Albouystown and Lot 203 Charlotte Street, Lacytown.
According to the police, Rowe who will be 18 years old on September 15, is medium built and brown in complexion. He is 160 cm tall, the bulletin added.
Last Monday, Police Commissioner Henry Greene had revealed to Stabroek News that the wanted man had recently eluded a police dragnet. Stressing that he could not disclose the location for security purposes, Greene said that the search is continuing since there is information that he was still in the area that was searched.
Rowe’s name first surfaced in May after two men were brutalized by police at a resort on the Soesdyke/ Linden Highway. The two men, Colin Jack and Fabian Levius, had revealed that the police assaulted them after one of them was mistaken for ‘Cobra’.
The men in speaking to the media had detailed how they were wrongfully taken into police custody. The police subsequently apologised to the men.
Following the execution of dray cart driver, Jamal `Radio’ Beete on June 19, relatives revealed that he was the older brother of Rowe. The men’s mother, Donna and sister Malika both said that they had lost contact with Rowe years ago since he never grew up with them. According to Donna from the age of eight months, Rowe was taken to live with his maternal grandmother. It was also revealed that at the age of 13, Rowe was already a troublesome child, getting into trouble for petty crimes and was always in fights.
After his name surfaced, police carried out several early morning searches at the woman’s Albouystown home but failed to locate the wanted man.
Rowe’s name was mentioned a third time on July 4 when heavily armed ranks converged in the East Ruimveldt, Front Road area releasing a barrage of gunfire during which two persons were wounded. Police later said that a group including Rowe first opened fire on them. The police alleged that 17-year-old Osafie Johnson who was shot in the upper left shoulder and left foot during the incident was one of the persons shooting at them. The teen has repeatedly denied knowing Rowe and shooting at the police.
Greene had told the media shortly after this incident that the police did not know what Rowe looked like and were working with informants.
Rowe’s name surfaced yet again earlier this month, following an armed robbery at Plaisance, which claimed the lives of two including one of the bandits. Police officials later said that the dead bandit, Anthony Taylor, age 24, was a key figure in the `Cobra’ gang and that there was information that the wanted man was part of the August 5 incident.
According to Crime Chief Seelall Persaud, Taylor and the robbery victim were killed by bullets from the same gun which is linked to Rowe.
