Was slain Palm Coast clerk target of attack?

PALM COAST, Fla. – As family and friends say goodbye to a 32-year-old mother of six who was gunned down at a Palm Coast gas station nearly a week ago, a Flagler County investigator says it appears her death wasn't a random crime.

Those arriving at Zuheily Rosado's viewing at a Flagler Beach funeral home say they want whoever killed her off the streets, but detectives say they don't know who did it or why.

Deputies say Rosado nearing the end of her 3-11 p.m. shift as clerk at the Mobil gas station on East State Route 100 last Thursday when a man walked in and shot her. Chilling surveillance video shows a man casually walked in and gunned her down as she stood behind the counter, then immediately left without taking a thing.

"No hesitation," former police detective Ray Stevens said. "He didn't appear to be nervous. He went right to work."

Stevens, who is now a criminology professor, says the killer knew what he was doing.

"I think that this woman was the victim of a direct hit," Stevens said. "Probably somebody from out of town, somebody who probably has some gang experience, or affiliated with some gang. (He) may have been hired."

Because there's no clear-cut motive, investigators are looking into Rosado's past for clues. Flagler County Clerk of Court records show the woman had been in a custody battle with the father of one of her children and he owed more than $28,000 in child support.

Rosado had also filed for a restraining order from the father of three of her other children. In one court document, she told the judge her ex-boyfriend had called and texted her more than 100 times and threatened to take her kids from her while they were at the bus stop.

Zuheily Rosado

Rosado wrote she and her family were scared, but a judge denied her request for a protective order, saying there wasn't evidence of any threat from the phone calls and text messages alone.

"You look at all the different things that could possibly be reason for her death," Flagler County Lt. Bob Weber said. "This is just one area that they would look out at. They would do a victimology study to find out what was going on in her life."

Rosado's family says they are aware of some custody battles but they don't know of anyone who would want to hurt her. They say she was the kind of woman who was very friendly and didn't cause problems.

Anyone with information about the killing is asked to call Flagler County Sheriff's Office Detective Mark Moy at 386-586-4801 or Crime Stoppers at 888-277-TIPS. Tipsters can text information by texting "tip231" plus their message to CRIMES (274637). Tipsters to Crime Stoppers can remain anonymous and could qualify for a reward of up to $5,000.

Rosado's funeral will be at 11 a.m. Thursday in the chapel of Craig-Flagler Palms Funeral Home at 511 Old Kings Road South in Flagler Beach. Interment will follow at Flagler Palms Memorial Gardens.

An account has been set up at Wells Fargo under the name of Zuheily Rosado Memorial Fund. Donations are being accepted at any Wells Fargo branch under account No. 7537414661. Donations can also be sent to the Justice Coalition, 1925 Lane Ave. S., Suite #1 32210 in Zuheily Rosado's name.