Man charged 'got nothing to do with' killing of Daniel Rowe

20-year-old shot, killed while taking out restaurant trash in July 2015

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A man accused of killing a Riverside restaurant employee denied any involvement in the 2015 shooting death in a Jacksonville Sheriff's Office interrogation video obtained by News4Jax on Monday from the State Attorney's Office. 

Erron Coleman is charged with murdering 20-year-old Daniel Rowe just over two years ago.

Police said Rowe was shot and killed while taking out the trash in July 2015 outside the once-popular Blind Rabbit restaurant.

In the new video, Coleman defends himself and claims his innocence.

Coleman: "Since I got out of prison and moved into the apartment, there’s been a lot of rumors about me, like, for what I’m in for now."
Detective: 'What you’re in for now, it's…"
Coleman: "Yeah, I know. But like I said, a lot of rumors since the first day I moved out there about me."
Detective: "Yeah, but why would they pick you, out of all the guys out there?"
Coleman: "Nobody out there like me, but the girls."

The detective can be heard in the video telling Coleman that people have told them he was involved in the murder, and wants to give Coleman his chance to say if it was a case of being at the wrong time -- that the other, still-unnamed suspect pulled the trigger.

The detective continues to press Coleman, but he doesn't budge.

Detective: "This is your opportunity. If you didn’t pull the trigger, if s*** got out of hand, and well, yeah, I was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and this, this and that happened, or that, that and that, as they say."
Coleman: "Sir, I understand what you’re saying, but I got nothing to do with that. I don’t know nothing about it. I don’t even like the dude, and just want you to leave it like that, sir."

Detectives even let Coleman listen to an excerpt of the jail recording in evidence against him, but he waves it off as lies. In the interrogation video, he eventually says he doesn’t want to talk to them anymore, and they leave. At one point, Coleman becomes frustrated and abruptly ends the interview. 

Detective: "We’ve all been in the wrong place at the wrong time."
Coleman: "I don’t want to talk to you anymore."
Detective: "You don’t want to talk to us anymore? Good luck with life. You had the opportunity."

The detectives can then be seen picking up their gear and shutting the door, leaving Coleman alone in the box.

Coleman maintains the accusations are all lies.

Victim's parents frustrated by court delays for son's accused killer

Rowe's family expressed frustration Monday morning after another court hearing for his accused killer was delayed.

Coleman was set to appear in court Monday on charges of first-degree murder and armed robbery, but lawyers from both sides rescheduled the pretrial hearing for Thursday afternoon.

Rowe's parents, who gathered with loved ones Saturday night to remember their son, were prepared to face Coleman in court again on Monday, only to walk away with another court date.

They said that although they are frustrated about the hearing being passed, they have faith in the justice system. 

"It's disappointing, in a way, but we do know that the State Attorney's Office and JSO are working very tirelessly to get us where we need to be,” Rowe's mother, Raelyn Rowe, said.

Rowe's parents have been at every court appearance, often wearing ribbons in their son's memory. Despite receiving updates from prosecutors, the Rowes said that at this point, they don't know exactly what is happening behind the scenes. 

What they do know is the impact their loss has had on the community, especially Riverside.

"That community has suffered and supported right along with us,” Raelyn Rowe said.

While hopeful there will soon be a resolution, Raelyn Rowe said she can't help but think how hard this is for everyone involved.

"Just like Daniel was my son, Mr. Coleman is someone else's son. So, we just have to consider that. We know it has to be hard on his family as well,” she said.

As they wait for Thursday’s hearing, Rowe’s family has a message for the second man involved in their son’s murder, who has yet to be identified. 

"Do yourself a favor and turn yourself in,” Raelyn Rowe said. “Let's deal with all of this."


About the Authors:

Ashley Harding joined the Channel 4 news team in March 2013. She reports for and anchors The Morning Show.