Family members, community leaders and neighbors gathered to mark the second anniversary of Win Rozario’s death, calling for accountability and changes to how police respond to mental health crises.
In March 2024, two NYPD officers responded to Rozario’s home after he called 911 on himself.
Within minutes, officers used a Taser on him twice. Authorities said Rozario then picked up a pair of scissors and approached the officers, who shot him five times, killing him.
What You Need To Know
The family of Win Rozario marked two years since his fatal police shooting, calling for accountability and reform
Rozario was shot by NYPD officers in 2024 after calling 911 on himself during a mental health crisis
Another family at the rally shared a similar case, as a 22-year-old shot by police now faces criminal charges
The officers in Rozario’s case were not criminally charged but face departmental misconduct proceedings
His mother, who was present during the encounter, pleaded with officers not to shoot.
Speaking through a translator at Wednesday’s rally, Notan Eva Costa said the pain of losing her son remains unchanged.
“I can’t believe that two years have passed and still the police have not been punished,” she said. “I want to say that the police should not be sent to situations involving illness or mental health crises. These systems need to be changed, otherwise other families like mine will be forced to live with this emptiness and grief.”
The case drew attention to how police handle calls involving people in mental health distress. Mayor Zohran Mamdani has pledged to remove the NYPD from responding to such calls.
Another family joined the rally, also calling for changes.
Jabez Chakraborty, 22, was shot by NYPD officers inside his Queens home in January during what his family described as a mental health crisis. He now faces charges of attempted assault and criminal possession of a weapon. On Wednesday, a Queens judge declined to dismiss those charges.
“Jabez is now in the hospital receiving in-patient mental health care finally and recovering from all the gunshot wounds. Jabez deserves to be treated with dignity, and he deserves to get better in a safe setting not fighting a court case,” said Hector Chakraborty, Jabez’s father.
In Rozario’s case, the state attorney general’s office declined to bring charges against the officers after an investigation found their use of force was justified. The NYPD later brought departmental misconduct charges.
In September, the city’s police oversight agency, the Civilian Complaint Review Board, substantiated allegations of improper use of force and abuse of authority against the officers.
They are expected to face a departmental trial, though a date has not yet been set.
NY1 reached out to the NYPD and the Police Benevolent Association for comment but did not receive a response.