Family Sues NYC, NYPD Over Fatal Queens Teen Shooting

The family of Win Rozario, a 19-year-old Queens resident who was fatally shot by NYPD officers during a mental health crisis last year, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city and the officers involved, Salvatore Alongi and Matthew Cianfrocco. Rozario had called 911 for help while experiencing a mental health episode, but upon police arrival, the situation escalated quickly, resulting in Rozario being shot multiple times despite wielding only kitchen scissors and being at a distance that posed no immediate threat. The lawsuit alleges the officers violated NYPD protocols, failed to deescalate the crisis, and unnecessarily endangered Rozario and his family, who were present during the incident. The family also accuses the police of treating them like criminals post-shooting by denying them access to accompany Rozario to the hospital and barring them from their home for over 48 hours. Multiple investigations into the shooting remain ongoing, but the officers have not been fired, arrested, or prosecuted, prompting calls for accountability from Rozario's family and advocates for improved police responses to mental health emergencies. The case has sparked protests and renewed criticism of the NYPD’s handling of mental health calls, emphasizing the need for non-police health-focused interventions.