NEW YORK – Two New York City police officers will not face criminal charges in the fatal shooting of 19-year-old Win Rozario, who was killed during a mental health crisis at his family’s Queens home on March 27, 2024. According to findings released by the state attorney general’s Office of Special Investigation, prosecutors determined they could not disprove beyond a reasonable doubt that the officers acted in self-defense when Rozario advanced toward them with scissors. Body camera footage showed Rozario holding the scissors as officers encountered him inside the home after a 911 call describing erratic behavior. The report concluded that the officers’ fear of imminent harm could not be proven unreasonable to the legal standard required for charges. However, both officers — Salvatore Alongi and Matthew Cianfrocco — still face an internal disciplinary process over excessive force allegations, as well as a civil lawsuit filed by the Rozario family.
Rozario’s parents and brother condemned the decision, stating that the attorney general’s conclusion felt like reliving the trauma of his death. They argued that the officers escalated the situation and that police should not be the primary responders to mental health emergencies. The report recommended expanding a pilot program that deploys paramedics and mental health professionals for such calls, increasing officer training on crisis response, and pursuing statewide legislation supporting public-health-based responses. Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani also called the shooting a tragic failure, pledging to strengthen mental health services and ensure future crises are handled differently. Body camera video revealed several chaotic moments inside the home: Rozario grabbing scissors, his mother briefly disarming him, pleas from family members for police not to shoot, and officers repeatedly using a Taser before firing their guns. Police union leadership defended the officers, saying they were forced to make rapid decisions amid a dangerous situation.