The assailant apparently took a VCR and some other items, but not Rose's service revolver. He left a smattering of blood on the front porch. Police have collected samples to see if it belonged to Rose or his attacker. Police also took as evidence the Mercedes-Benz, Rose's prized possession. The car was parked about two feet from the curb in front of his house with a window open despite pouring rain.
Detectives are unsure if someone else drove it, which is why it was towed away for evidence.
Neighbors said Rose loved the car and they often saw him outside washing it. When Rose didn't show up for work yesterday and hadn't called in, his supervisor tried to call him at home and got no response, Thompson, the 4th District commander, said. He called the 1st Police District, where Rose lived, and a cop who knew Rose was dispatched to check out his home. The first sign he saw that something was wrong was Rose's car parked away from the curb with the open window. He notified his supervisor, they investigated and found what appeared to be droplets of blood on his front porch.