In the evening hours of July 25, 2023, a burst of gunfire shattered the quiet of an Oklahoma City neighborhood, leaving a young man's life cut tragically short. Don Rose, a 25-year-old Caucasian male, was fatally wounded in what authorities have described as a drive-by shooting. The incident unfolded in the 1400 block of East Park Place, where Rose and another individual, Jackie Crenwelge, were walking when a vehicle approached them.
Without warning, one or more occupants of the vehicle
opened fire on the two men. The sudden and violent attack left Rose with fatal injuries, and he was pronounced deceased at the scene. Crenwelge, who was 32 years old at the time, was also struck by the gunfire but survived the harrowing ordeal. First responders and law enforcement quickly descended on the area, securing the crime scene and beginning the search for those responsible for the brazen act of violence that claimed a life.
The Oklahoma City Police Department launched an immediate and thorough investigation into the shooting death of Don Rose, which was officially classified as the city's 46th homicide of the year. While the motive for the attack was not immediately clear, detectives worked diligently to piece together the events of that fateful evening. Their efforts led to a significant breakthrough in the case when they identified a suspect.
A little over two weeks after the shooting, authorities arrested 23-year-old Steven Truitt in connection with the homicide. Truitt was taken into custody and subsequently booked into the Oklahoma County Jail on a complaint of First Degree Murder for his alleged role in the death of Don Rose. While an arrest has been made, the investigation continues as prosecutors begin the legal process to bring the case to trial.
