Two New York City police officers won\u2019t be charged in the shooting death of a 19-year-old man during a mental health crisis last year as his mother and brother begged the officers not to open fire, state Attorney General Letitia James\u2019 office said Thursday.<\/p>\n
Win Rozario was shot five times by the officers at his family\u2019s home in Queens on March 27, 2024, as he came at them while holding scissors in his hand, police body camera video showed. A person in the home had called 911 and told a dispatcher \u201cI think my son is on drugs and is acting mad erratic,\u201d according to police.<\/p>\n
The Office of Special Investigation in James\u2019 office concluded in its report that \u201ca prosecutor would not be able to disprove beyond a reasonable doubt that the officers\u2019 use of deadly force against Mr. Rozario was justified and, therefore, will not seek charges.\u201d<\/p>\n
The report also said that the reasonableness of the fear the officers, Salvatore Alongi and Matthew Cianfrocco, had when Rozario came at them with the scissors could not be disproven beyond a reasonable doubt. Both officers, however, still face an internal discipline trial on excessive force allegations by the city\u2019s Civilian Complaint Review Board, as well as a lawsuit by Rozario\u2019s family.<\/p>\n
Rozario\u2019s mother, Notan Eva Costa, his father, Francis Rozario, and his brother, Utsho Rozario, criticized the decision not to prosecute the officers.<\/p>\n
\u201cState Attorney General Letitia James\u2019 cowardly decision not to indict NYPD Officers Matthew Cianfrocco and Salvatore Alongi for murdering our beloved son and brother, Win Rozario, feels like we\u2019re watching Win get murdered all over again,\u201d they said in a statement released by the Justice Committee advocacy group.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were safe in our home until Officers Cianfrocco and Alongi walked in and created chaos,\u201d they said. \u201cThe NYPD should not be engaging with people experiencing a mental health episode.\u201d<\/p>\n
The attorney general\u2019s office did not immediately respond to a request for reaction to the family\u2019s comments Thursday evening.<\/p>\n
The Office of Special Investigation\u2019s report recommends expanding citywide a pilot program that dispatches paramedics and mental health professionals as first responders to mental health emergency calls. It also recommends more training for officers on responding to such calls. And it says the state should enact a law allowing public health-based responses to people experiencing a mental health, alcohol use or substance use crisis.<\/p>\n
Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani\u2019s platform includes expanding mental health services across the city, including having health professionals respond to mental health crises reported in 911 calls.<\/p>\n
\u201cWin Rozario\u2019s death was a senseless tragedy that brought pain to so many New Yorkers, most of all his loved ones,\u201d Mamdani said in a statement Thursday. <\/p>\n
He noted the officers are facing potential discipline and added, \u201cWhat today\u2019s decision does not change is our obligation to do everything in our power to ensure this does not happen again, our commitment to delivering the social services New Yorkers deserve, and our investment in both genuine public safety and justice for all.\u201d<\/p>\n
After the officers entered Rozario\u2019s home, Rozario grabbed a pair of scissors in the kitchen and took a few quick steps toward the officers, prompting one of them to fire a Taser, the police body camera video showed. Razario\u2019s mother then wrested the scissors away while holding onto him and police ordered her to get out of their way, prompting her to plea \u201cDon\u2019t shoot\u201d as she put the scissors on a chair and stepped aside.<\/p>\n
The situation then quickly escalated, with an officer firing a Taser again and Rozario picking up the scissors and walking toward police. One officer then fired his handgun at Rozario, whose mother rushed to him, followed by her younger son, who tried to pull her away.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease do not shoot my mom!\u201d Rozario\u2019s brother cries.<\/p>\n
\u201cGet her out of the way!\u201d police shout. Rozario\u2019s mother and brother fall to the floor.<\/p>\n
Officers then opened fire again at Rozario as he went toward them with the scissors.<\/p>\n
Patrick Hendry, president of the Police Benevolent Association of the City of New York, a police union, said the attorney general\u2019s office made the right call in not prosecuting the officers.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese police officers were placed in an incredibly difficult situation and forced to make split second decisions based on the risks to everyone at that scene,\u201d he said in a statement.<\/p>\n
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