The chilling body camera footage released by the NYPD shows the moment when officers fatally shot a mentally ill man, Win Rozario, in Queens. Rozario lunged at the officers with scissors while his family begged them not to shoot. The family is calling for the officers involved to be fired and charged with murder, claiming that Win should still be alive and that the police officers acted without care for him or his family. The incident occurred on March 27 in Ozone Park, after police responded to a 911 call from Rozario at his home.
In the video, Rozario can be seen charging at the officers with scissors, despite his mother managing to briefly take them from him and put them down. The officers attempted to use Tasers on Rozario twice, but he picked up the scissors again as his mother and brother struggled to stop him. He charged at the officers a final time with the scissors, resulting in both officers firing their guns at him. Rozario was taken to the hospital and later died as a result of the shooting. The New York Attorney General’s office is investigating the fatal shooting.
The family of Win Rozario expressed their distress over the release of the video, stating that it has been over a month since they lost him and that their hearts are broken. They believe that the police created a crisis and killed him in cold blood. Although they feel his absence every day, they also feel the trauma and pain of reliving the incident through the video. Despite their wishes, they recognize that the public release of the video was necessary, given the circumstances of the case.
As a result of the incident, the two officers involved are on modified duty and do not have their badges or firearms. The NYPD issued a statement acknowledging that they receive millions of calls for service each year, including emergency calls regarding individuals in a mental health crisis. They stated that only a small percentage of these calls result in any form of force being used by the police, and an even smaller number result in the use of deadly physical force. The NYPD also expressed a commitment to improving their response to requests for assistance but acknowledged that there is still work to be done in this area.
The video’s release and the subsequent public scrutiny have raised questions about police responses to mental health crises and the use of force in such situations. The tragic outcome of Win Rozario’s case has sparked calls for accountability and justice from his family and the community. The investigation by the New York Attorney General’s office will shed further light on the circumstances surrounding the shooting and determine if any charges should be filed against the officers involved. The incident serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by law enforcement in responding to mental health emergencies and the need for ongoing reform and training in handling such situations.
