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

Two New York City police officers will not be charged in the shooting death of a 19-year-old man during a mental health crisis last year after his mother and brother pleaded with officers not to open fire, State Attorney General Letitia James’ office announced Thursday.

Win Rozario was shot five times by police officers at his family’s Queens home on March 27, 2024, as he approached them while holding scissors in his hand, police body camera video showed. A person in the house had called 911 and told a dispatcher, “I think my son is on drugs and acting crazy and erratic,” according to police.

The Bureau of Special Investigation in James’ office concluded in its report that “a prosecutor would not be able to disprove beyond a reasonable doubt that the officers’ use of deadly force against Mr. Rozario was justified and, therefore, will not file charges.” »

The report also states that the reasonableness of the fear of the officers, Salvatore Alongi and Matthew Cianfrocco, when Rozario attacked them with scissors could not be refuted beyond a reasonable doubt. However, the two officers still face an internal disciplinary trial over allegations of excessive force by the city’s Civilian Complaints Commission, as well as 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 prosecute the officers.

“State Attorney General Letitia James’ cowardly decision not to indict NYPD Officers Matthew Cianfrocco and Salvatore Alongi for the murder of our beloved son and brother, Win Rozario, makes it appear as if we are watching Win get murdered again,” they said in a statement released by the Justice Committee advocacy group.

“We were safe in our house until officers Cianfrocco and Alongi came in and created chaos,” they said. “The NYPD should not engage with people experiencing a mental health episode.”

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 a citywide pilot program that sends paramedics and mental health professionals as first responders to emergency mental health calls. He also recommends more training for officers on how to respond to such calls. And he says the state should enact a law authorizing public health-based responses to people facing a mental health, alcohol use or substance abuse crisis.

Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s agenda includes expanding mental health services across the city, including having medical professionals respond to mental health crises reported during 911 calls.

“Win Rozario’s death is a senseless tragedy that has caused pain for many New Yorkers, especially his loved ones,” Mamdani said in a statement Thursday.

He noted that the officers were subject to potential disciplinary action and added: “What today’s decision does not change is our obligation to do everything in our power to ensure this never happens again, our commitment to providing the social services New Yorkers deserve, and our investment in true public safety and justice for all.”

After the officers entered Rozario’s home, Rozario grabbed a pair of scissors from the kitchen and took a few quick steps toward the officers, prompting one of them to fire a Taser, police body camera video showed. Razario’s mother then snatched the scissors while restraining him and police ordered him to get out of their way, prompting him to shout “Don’t shoot” as she placed the scissors on a chair and moved out of the way.

The situation then quickly escalated, with a police officer firing a Taser again and Rozario picking up the scissors and heading towards the police. A police officer then fired his handgun at Rozario, whose mother rushed toward him, followed by her youngest son, who tried to pull him away.

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

“Get her away!” the police shout. Rozario’s mother and brother fall to the ground.

The officers then opened fire on Rozario again as he walked toward them with the scissors.

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

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