State AG clears NYPD cops in fatal shooting of mentally ill man — but they still face internal trial
Attorney General Letitia James has ruled that no criminal case will follow the NYPD officers who shot a mentally‑ill 19‑year‑old in Queens in March of last year. However, the two cops remain under an internal disciplinary hearing.
The officers—Matthew Cianfrocco and Salvatore Alongi—were called to Win Rozario’s Ozone Park residence after a 911 caller said there was a person “on drugs.” According to the AG’s office, the officers were justified under department policy when the teenager lunged at them with a pair of scissors. The Civilian Complaint Review Board still has pending misconduct charges against the pair.
In September, the NYPD’s internal watchdog “substantiated” complaints of excessive force and abuse of authority, meaning the officers could face penalties ranging from loss of vacation days to outright dismissal.
Mayor‑elect Zohran Mamdani, who has publicly urged “justice” for Rozario’s family, said he was awaiting the outcome of the disciplinary hearing. “Win Rozorio’s death was a senseless tragedy that has hurt so many New Yorkers, especially his loved ones,” Mamdani said. “The NYPD is holding a disciplinary trial for the two officers, which is the correct course of action, and I closely await the outcome.”
The fatal incident happened just after 2 p.m. on March 27, 2024. When the officers arrived, Rozario was with his mother and brother inside the home. He grabbed a pair of scissors while his mom tried to restrain him. One officer used a stun gun; his mother was able to disarm Rozario and push him to the floor. The officers ordered the mother to step back, and she placed the scissors on a kitchen chair, then begged, “Don’t shoot.” The officer fired a second Taser blast. Rozario, however, reached for the scissors again and moved toward the officers, who fired the first of five shots. The other officer shouted, “Put it down!” after Rozario was still standing, and both officers fired until he fell, mortally wounded.
“The prosecutor would not be able to disprove beyond a reasonable doubt that the officers’ use of deadly force was justified,” the AG report read. “Therefore, OSI determined that criminal charges would not be pursued.” The report also noted that the local Behavioral Health Emergency Assistance Response Division team was not available, and that even if it had been, the call was for a person “on drugs,” a scenario the team normally does not address.
The agency recommends expanding the BHEARD teams to more precincts and broadening the types of incidents that trigger their intervention. Mamdani, who beat former Gov. Andrew Cuomo for the mayoralty, has proposed a new department in which social workers handle quality‑of‑life calls instead of plainclothes officers. He has also requested that NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch stay on board after he takes office.
Mamdani’s past anti‑police rhetoric has drawn criticism from law‑and‑order figures and city commentators. In his statement, he emphasized that while today’s decision remains unchanged, the city will continue to “do everything in our power to ensure this does not happen again, to deliver the social services New Yorkers deserve, and to invest in genuine public safety and justice for all.” The NYPD declined to comment on the AG’s ruling.
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