Family reacts to shocking images of 19-year-old Win Rozario who was killed in a police shooting

The family of 19-year-old Win Rozario and social justice activists are reacting Friday after New York State Attorney General Letitia James released body camera footage showing the fatal police shooting of the Queens teen.

The disturbing video shows officers Salvatore alongi and Matthew Cianfrocco arriving at the victim’s home in Ozone Park on March 27 after Rozario apparently called them for help during a mental health crisis. Police were met at the front door of the house by Rozario’s 17-year-old brother Ushto Rozario, who took them to the second floor of the house.

The shocking video shows Win Rozario attempting to attack police with a pair of small scissors as his mother, Notan Ava Costa, tries to wrestle the tools out of his hands. Police shot the boy with Tasers as the distraught mother tried to protect her son. Police told his mother to get out of the way. “Let him go and stand back,” one of the officers could be heard shouting.

“Please don’t shoot my mother,” Ushto Rozario could be heard pleading.

“I’m not going to do that, but…” you heard officer Cianfrocco reply.

Ushto, concerned for his mother’s safety, pulled her to the ground as Win Rozario appeared to march toward officers when shots rang out, killing the boy.

In a joint statement from the family, the Rozarios condemned the shooting, calling it outright murder and demanding that the responding officers be fired.

“It’s been over a month since we lost Win and our hearts are broken. We feel his absence every day. Reliving this is traumatic and painful. We wish it wasn’t necessary for the video to be public. The released video makes it clear that Win was supposed to be alive, but the police came and killed him in our kitchen, without any concern for him or us,” the statement said. “The police created a crisis and killed him in cold blood. The officers should be fired as soon as possible and prosecuted for murder.”

On the day of the shooting, NYPD Chief John Chell stood outside Rozario’s home hours after the incident and defended the police.

“The mother, being a mother, came to help her son. In doing so, she accidentally knocked the Tasers out of his body,” Patrol Chief John Chell said Wednesday. “At that moment the man picked up the scissors again and came towards our officers. They had no choice but to defend themselves and fire their firearms.”

Judiciary Commission Executive Director Loyda Colon disagrees. Over the course of the video, the officers could be heard yelling at Notan Ava Costa to “get the f-k away.” This, Colon argues, only proves the point at which Officers Langi and Cianfrocco escalated the situation.

“The images are gruesome – this was an execution,” Colon said. “From the outset, the offensive language made it clear that these officers should not communicate with anyone who may have or may have mental health issues. Contrary to the NYPD lies that began shortly after Win’s murder, the video shows that the way these officers entered created a crisis situation that they unilaterally escalated several times. The police made no attempt to de-escalate the crisis they had created or to engage with Win and his family, other than barking orders, tasering and shooting. This was a cold-blooded murder.”

The attorney general’s office stated that releasing the footage is about transparency and that the investigation is ongoing.

The NYPD said in response to the release of the body camera footage that it is rare for officers to use force. The department said it receives more than 9 million calls for help each year, including about 155,000 emergency calls involving people suffering from a mental health crisis. The NYPD said these calls result in less than 1% use of force.

“The NYPD is fully cooperating with the Attorney General’s investigation into this tragic incident and is committed to a full and thorough review. The NYPD Force Investigation Division is also investigating. The two police officers involved remain on modified assignment. An officer on modified assignment shall not carry a shield or firearm,” read part of the NYPD statement.