A cop-killer gunned down her fiancée just months before their dream wedding.
But Nikki Salgot decided she would show her devotion to the love of her life by posing for poignant photos of her in a wedding dress – on her own.
Salgot, 29, was due to wed Wayne State University police officer Collin Rose on October 14, 2017.
But Rose was tragically shot while on duty in Detroit last November.
Instead of being overwhelmed by grief, Salgot chose to be defiant, according to NBC’s Today.
She asked a friend, who’s a professional photographer, to help her pay tribute to Rose by posing for pictures in a white wedding dress that she had already bought.
A cop-killer gunned down her fiancée just months before their dream wedding. But Nikki Salgot decided she would show her devotion to the love of her life by posing for poignant photos of her in a wedding dress – on her own
Salgot, 29, was due to wed Wayne State University police officer Collin Rose on October 14, 2017
But Rose was tragically shot while on duty in Detroit last November. Instead of being overwhelmed by grief, Salgot chose to be defiant
She asked a friend, who’s a professional photographer, to help her pay tribute to Rose by posing for pictures in a white wedding dress that she had already bought
The photographer, Rachel Heller, hadn’t spoken to Salgot in 10 years. But when she heard about what happened to Rose on the news, she decided she wanted to help
In a few of the photos, her face emits sadness and grief. But, in others, she is playful and smiling. ‘She had an ease about her,’ said Heller
Salgot is seen with her fiancee in this undated picture before his tragic death nearly a year ago
Rose lost his life while on duty for the police force at Wayne State University in Detroit
Rose, 29, was shot in the head in a west side neighborhood a few blocks from Wayne State while investigating possible thefts of navigation systems from cars
The photographer, Rachel Heller, hadn’t spoken to Salgot in 10 years. But when she heard about what happened to Rose on the news, she decided she wanted to help.
Heller is the owner of Rachel Smaller Photography, a brand based in Detroit.
Last month, Heller and Salgot met in the woods to conduct the photo shoot.
Heller didn’t mention to Salgot that she was a week away from her own wedding.
‘I remember being in tears on the way there, thinking, “How am I going to do this? How am I going to find a way to take photos that will do this justice, not just for her but for him?”‘ said Heller, 28.
‘When she got out of the car, it was clear as day,’ Heller said.
The alleged killer, Raymond Durham (left), 60, was charged this past August in the shooting. Durham was charged in March with attempted murder of two Detroit police officers who were shot when they stopped him. They survived and Durham was arrested at the scene. Rose is seen right
‘She was the picture of grief and resilience and strength and vulnerability and authenticity, all at once. I thought, I have to take photographs that when people see them, they will feel how I felt when she got out of the car.’
Salgot is seen in the photos holding onto a folded American flag and Rose’s police hat.
In a few of the photos, her face emits sadness and grief. But, in others, she is playful and smiling.
‘She had an ease about her,’ said Heller.
‘She said, “Collin never took himself too seriously, and we never took ourselves too seriously as a couple. … It is what it is”.’
‘There were moments when Nikki would shift her dress around, or step on it and start laughing. I wanted to capture those moments, too, to show that she can still laugh. … I needed to tell the story of this woman who’s lost the love of her life but is still going to have closure, and still going to be his wife one way or another.’
Heller recalls tense moments during the shoot.
At one point, Salgot had brought Rose’s police badge and tried to pin it onto the flag.
‘She kept smiling and telling me, “It’s OK, it’s OK” – imagine, this woman who’s been through all this, telling me that it’s OK,’ Heller said.
‘She was so sure of herself. She didn’t tell her family because … she wanted to do this herself,’ Heller said. ‘She was very empowered that day. … She made it really easy for me to do what I needed to do, to give her what she needed,’ Heller said.
After Heller finished editing the photos, she gave Salgot the prints as a gift. She then told Salgot that in another three days she was supposed to walk down the aisle.
Durham allegedly shot Rose (pictured), 29, in the head a few blocks from the university’s campus
Wayne State University police officers carry Rose’s coffin at his funeral
‘She was so excited for me,’ Heller said.
‘So collected. It was so generous of her to be happy for me. It really put things in perspective. … My busy schedule and whatever else I have to do doesn’t matter because at least I get to do it. It was way more important to be there for her.’
On her Facebook page, Salgot wrote: ‘(Heller) captured images that still vividly show the pain left behind; images that show I am still able to laugh, smile and be me; images that show this loss has not and will not destroy me; and my favorite, images that show I am still just as fierce as ever and refuse to let this define me.’
‘This is a woman who is not broken,’ Heller said. ‘This did not break her. To me, she is an inspiration.’
Rose, 29, was shot in the head in a west side neighborhood a few blocks from Wayne State while investigating possible thefts of navigation systems from cars.
Before the shooting, Rose radioed in that he was about to speak to someone on a bike. He died the next day.
The alleged killer, Raymond Durham, 60, was charged this past August in the shooting.
Durham was charged in March with attempted murder of two Detroit police officers who were shot when they stopped him. They survived and Durham was arrested at the scene.
Police Chief James Craig had said that DNA evidence linked Durham to the Rose shooting.
Durham has twice been found incompetent to stand trial in those shootings.
A judge ordered Durham to also undergo a mental evaluation to determine if he is competent to stand trial in the Rose slaying.
Family members have said that Durham lived in an abandoned house and repaired bikes.
His defense attorney, Gabi Silver, has said that Durham appeared ‘to be somewhat delusional.’
Wayne State has more than 27,000 students and is located in the heart of Detroit. The school employs around 65 officers.
Rose, of St. Clair Shores, was a five-year veteran of the university’s police force and worked in the canine unit. He is the only Wayne State officer killed in the line of duty.
He was awarded a citation for valor and posthumously promoted to sergeant.
‘Sgt. Rose’s career and his impact on others will never be forgotten,’ Worthy said Thursday. ‘This case continues to strongly illustrate the dangers that police officers face every minute of every day.’
Durham’s scheduled arraignment Thursday was postponed. He’s due back in court in December.