I think I agree that Rowlands initial earliest statement of seeing the SW window gunman is probably true, while his later statements that add the elderly balding negro are either some confused post shots observation of Norman at the SE window or are some kind of embellishment (per Rowlands wife’s statements)
It seems less probable that BRW was untruthful, or that BRW would have failed to notice TWO nefarious characters on either side of him on the 6th floor, especially a SE window person who is leaning out the window no less, which would require he probably had to to RAISE the window , which most likely would cause noise and also he would not be so hidden behind a stack boxes if he did this action , plus, being only about 30 ft from BRW as well.
So the situation appears to be just one gunman whom had intent to shoot from the SW 6th floor window originally , but was basically thwarted unexpectedly by the presence of BRW on the floor.
However, it’s not exactly leading to any conclusion (for me ) that the gunman was Oswald.
In fact, BECAUSE the SW gunman seems to have been surprised by the presence of BRW on the floor, suggests someone who was NOT very familiar with where other TSBD employees would be at that time and also someone who had NOT taken time to make SURE the floor was clear.
Speculatively, it’s as though a gunman had just arrived to the scene within 15 minutes , without much pre inspection of the scene, intending to “shoot and scoot”.
The reasons to choose the SW window are as follows:
1. The SW allows a very close shot to the forehead of JFK overtop of the windshield of the limo as it slows to make that acute left turn onto Elm st.
2. The angle of the rifle is such that the gunman can be completely hidden in shadow, standing In the SW corner and the rifle theoretically would be difficult to see also as not much part of the barrel ( if any ) would have to be sticking out the window.
3. Such a close shot only 100 ft ( 33 yds) away approx at the slowest movement of the target that would occur , would be a high probability of a 1 shot kill.
4. Because of the high angle from the SW window with LOS essentially in front of and over top of the windshield, the location of the SS agents and accompanying motorcycle escort police would offer virtually no possibility of obstruction even if there had been SS agents riding directly on the JFK limo.
Propositions:
A. The gunman more probably had a rifle with a scope that was larger and center mounted, thus was seen by Rowland as appearing similar to a 30.06 Hunting rifle ( vs a smaller side mounted scope of a MC rifle that is less probably seen from 280 ft distance).
B. The gunman arrived to the scene within 15 minutes with plan to shoot and scoot. He chose the SW window originally without having done any preliminary surveillance of the 6th floor, thinking erroneously it would be clear.
C. The choice of the SW window was for the angle that allows a high probability of 1shot kill and also a possible plan to drop the rifle out the building from a west window near the NW corner staircase to a car parked below beside the annex portion of the loading dock. The gunman can then either descend staircase or use an elevator.
D. The gunmans plan was thwarted by presence of BRW, which forced the gunman to relocate himself to the SE window and to wait for BRW to leave the floor.
E. The escape plan for the gunman may have remained the same, the rifle dropped out the NW window and the gunman goes down by staircase or uses elevator.
F. The rifle used was probably one which could be disassembled and concealed in a much smaller container than an MC rifle, which may explain not actually using an MC rifle ( if intended to set up Oswald)
If any of the above are plausible then Alan Fords theory about the gunman being a contracted floor crew member might be a plausible alternative. Such person arriving late to the scene in pretense, possibly even wearing a work uniform of some sort and concealing rifle disassembled in a regular tool box.
