Win Rozario’s family requests meeting with Mayor Adams regarding their concerns.

Relatives of Win Rozario, a 19-year-old tragically shot by NYPD officers in his Ozone Park home last year, are intensifying their calls for accountability from city officials. In a letter scheduled for delivery to Mayor Eric Adams and NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, Rozario’s family expressed their dissatisfaction with the lack of response from the administration over the past 15 months. The shooting, which occurred on March 27, 2024, has become a focal point for discussions on police conduct and mental health crises.

In their correspondence, Rozario’s mother, Notan Eva Costa, father, Francis Rozario, and brother, Utsho Rozario, asserted that they have faced “lies, obstruction, and inaction” from the city regarding their son’s death. The family asserts that Win Rozario was unjustly killed under circumstances that demanded accountability. They have requested a meeting with Mayor Adams to discuss their ongoing concerns and emphasize the need for systemic change within the NYPD.

The letter highlights their demand for the termination of the two involved officers, Salvatore Alongi and Matthew Cianfrocco, urging the administration to fulfill its commitments to accountability. The family’s expressions of frustration are compounded by their recent legal action against the city, alleging that the officers violated numerous departmental regulations, which they claim led to the unnecessary escalation of a mental health crisis into a fatal confrontation.

Responding to the family’s requests, Adams’ spokeswoman, Kayla Mamelak, expressed condolences while refraining from commenting on the specific meeting request due to the ongoing litigation. Mamelak conveyed that the loss of a child is a devastating experience that no parent should endure and noted that the administration would review the family’s letter.

The incident that led to Rozario’s death underscores broader issues related to the police response to mental health emergencies. According to body camera footage and police reports, Rozario had called the police seeking assistance during a mental health episode, during which he was reportedly holding a pair of kitchen scissors. The situation rapidly escalated. Officers entered the home, commanded him to drop the scissors, and ultimately discharged their weapons, resulting in multiple shots being fired in less than two minutes.

This tragic event has reignited debates surrounding police training and protocols when responding to mental health crises, emphasizing the urgent need for reform in how such situations are handled. As the Rozario family continues to seek justice and accountability, their case may serve as a crucial touchstone in the national conversation on police conduct and mental health resources.