New York City officers won’t face charges in fatal shooting of 19-year-old man

Two New York cops will not be charged 19-year-old young man shot dead During a mental health crisis last year, her mother and brother begged officers not to open fire, State’s Attorney Letitia James’s office said Thursday.

Police body camera video shows Win Rozario being shot five times by officers at his family’s Queens home on March 27, 2024, as he approached them with scissors in hand. According to police, someone from the home called 911 and told the dispatcher, “I think my son is on drugs and acting crazy.”

James’ office’s Office of Special Investigations concluded in its report: “A prosecutor cannot disprove beyond a reasonable doubt that officers’ use of deadly force against Mr. Rozario was justified and therefore cannot file charges.”

The report also stated that the fear felt by police officers Salvatore Alongi and Matthew Cianfrocco when Rozario approached them with scissors could not be refuted beyond a reasonable doubt. But both officers still face an internal disciplinary hearing from the city’s Civilian Complaint Review Board over allegations of excessive force and a lawsuit filed by Rozario’s family.

Rozario’s mother Notan Eva Costa, father Francis Rozario and brother Utsho Rozario criticized the decision not to file a lawsuit against the officers.

“State Attorney General Letitia James’s cowardly decision not to charge NYPD Officers Matthew Cianfrocco and Salvatore Alongi, who are accused of murdering our beloved son and brother Win Rozario, feels as if we are watching Win be killed again,” they said in a statement released by the advocacy group Judiciary Committee.

“We were safe in our home until Officers Cianfrocco and Alongi broke in and created chaos,” they said. “NYPD should not be interacting with people experiencing mental health issues.”

The attorney general’s office did not immediately respond to a request for reaction to the family’s comments Thursday evening.

The Office of Special Investigations report recommends expanding citywide a pilot program that deploys paramedics and mental health professionals as first responders to mental health emergency calls. It also recommends giving officers more training on responding to such calls. He also says the state should pass legislation allowing public health-based interventions for people experiencing a mental health, alcohol use or substance abuse crisis.

Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s platform includes expanding mental health services citywide, including having health professionals respond to mental health crises reported in 911 calls.

“Win Rozario’s death was a senseless tragedy that brought pain to many New Yorkers, especially his loved ones,” Mamdani said in a statement Thursday. he said.

He said the officers face potential discipline, but added: “What remains constant in today’s decision is our obligation to do everything we can to ensure this doesn’t happen again, our commitment to providing the social services New Yorkers deserve, and our investment in both true public safety and justice for all.”

Police body camera video shows that after officers entered Rozario’s home, she grabbed a pair of scissors from the kitchen and took several quick steps toward the officers, prompting one of them to fire a stun gun. Razario’s mother then took the scissors from him while holding Razario, and police ordered him to get out of their way, prompting Razario to place the scissors on a chair and plead “Don’t shoot” as he stood aside.

The situation then quickly escalated, with an officer firing his stun gun again and Rozario grabbing the scissors and walking toward the officer. A police officer then shot Rozario with his gun; Rozario’s mother ran towards her, followed by her younger son, who tried to push her away.

“Please don’t shoot my mother!” Rozario’s brother is crying.

“Get him out of the way!” the police shout. Rozario’s mother and brother fall to the ground.

The officers then opened fire again when Rozario approached them with the scissors.

Patrick Hendry, president of the New York City Police Benevolent Association, a police union, said the attorney general’s office made the right decision in not filing charges against the officers.

“These officers were placed in an incredibly difficult situation and forced to make split-second decisions based on the risks facing everyone at the scene,” he said in a statement.