Two New York City police officers have been cleared of any charges in the shooting death of 19-year-old Win Rozario, which occurred during a mental health crisis in March 2024. The decision was announced by the office of state Attorney General Letitia James on Thursday, following a review of the incident. The shooting took place at Rozario's family home in Queens, where he was armed with scissors.
On March 27, 2024, a 911 call was made from Rozario's residence, wherein a family member reported that he was acting erratically, potentially under the influence of drugs. Body camera footage from the responding officers, Salvatore Alongi and Matthew Cianfrocco, revealed that Rozario advanced toward them while holding the scissors, which led to the use of lethal force. The state's Office of Special Investigation concluded that there was insufficient evidence to disprove that the officers' actions were justified under the circumstances they faced.
The report emphasized that the officers could not be faulted for their fear of imminent danger when confronted by Rozario. As a result, no criminal charges will be pursued against them. However, the officers are still subject to an internal discipline trial concerning excessive force allegations from the Civilian Complaint Review Board of New York City and are facing a lawsuit from Rozario's family.
The decision not to prosecute has been met with heavy criticism from Rozario's family. His mother, Notan Eva Costa, father, Francis Rozario, and brother, Utsho Rozario, expressed that they felt as though they were reliving their son and brother's death. They articulated their discontent through a statement released by the advocacy group, Justice Committee, calling the Attorney General's decision "cowardly" and claiming it reflected a systemic failure in handling incidents involving individuals in mental health crises. They argued that the NYPD should not engage individuals experiencing such crises.
The attorney general’s office has not yet commented publicly on the family's reactions. The report from the Office of Special Investigation included recommendations aimed at improving how the city responds to mental health emergencies. These suggestions advocate for expanding a pilot program that deploys paramedics and mental health professionals to such emergencies, as well as increasing training for law enforcement officers to better handle these situations. Additionally, it calls for legislation permitting public health-focused responses in scenarios involving mental health or substance-related crises.
Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani has included similar initiatives in his platform, emphasizing the need to bolster mental health services across the city and advocating for health professionals to be the first responders in mental health emergencies. In his statement, Mamdani labeled Rozario's death a "senseless tragedy" and underscored an obligation to prevent future occurrences while emphasizing a commitment to improving public safety and providing necessary social services.
Throughout the encounter, tension escalated dramatically as officers attempted to subdue Rozario. The incident escalated when Rozario grabbed the scissors and approached the officers, prompting one to deploy a Taser. As Rozario's mother intervened to take the scissors away, police shouted orders and expressed concern for safety, leading to a chaotic situation where shots were ultimately fired as Rozario continued advancing toward the officers.
Patrick Hendry, the president of the Police Benevolent Association of the City of New York, supported the decision not to file charges against the officers, arguing they were placed in an extremely difficult and dangerous situation. He emphasized that police officers must make rapid, life-altering decisions in high-pressure moments like the one faced during this incident.
