Cops kill ‘psychotic’ teen
19-yr.-old wielding scissors tased, then shot; kin cry for ‘justice’
NYPD cops fatally shot a youth in mental distress wielding scissors in his Queens home Wednesday after he called 911 on himself — and his family are now calling for justice over what they believe was a wrongful killing.
The 19-year-old, identified by family as Win Rozario, called 911 just before 1:40 p.m. as he spiraled out of control during a “mental crisis,” NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell said at a press conference.
Two officers arrived to the two-family home near the corner of 103rd St. and 101st Ave. in Ozone Park within two minutes, according to cops.
“As the officers get here, they go up to the second-floor apartment and the situation becomes quite hectic, chaotic and dangerous right away,” Chell said.
As the cops went to take Rozario into custody to get him mental health treatment, he pulled a pair of scissors out of a wardrobe and charged them, according to police and the man’s younger brother.
Chell said officers used their
Tasers on Rozario, but his mother tried to come to his aid and knocked out the prongs, after which he picked the scissors up for a second time and ran back toward the cops.
Win’s mother and younger brother, who were in the same room as Rozario, the kitchen, disputed that narrative.
Sibling Utsho Rozario, 17, said he let officers into the residence and asked them to “be gentle” with Win, who the sibling described as “a little psychotic” and having “one of his episodes.”
“I didn’t see my mother pull out the Tasers,” said Utsho, adding that his brother didn’t reach for the scissor a second time, either. “It’s on the body camera, so we will see.”
Win Rozario’s mother, Eva Costa, was hugging him after he was tased — not trying to remove the device — she and her surviving son said.
The incident is still being investigated by the NYPD’s Force Division Unit, and no body-worn camera footage has yet been released, police said.
Both responding officers discharged their firearms, according to Chell.
“I just heard arguing, then you heard the one shot,” said Kenneth
Clark, who lives in the neighborhood. “After that, there was a little bit of silence and then you heard more shots.”
Win Rozario was struck by the gunfire, according to police.
“We want justice. My son was innocent. My son had a little mental problem, but the police weren’t listening to us,” said Win’s father, Francis Rozario, 52, who was at work at Kennedy Airport during the incident but later joined his family.
Another neighbor described the scene as medics continued to work on the wounded man as they wheeled him into a waiting ambulance.
“He wasn’t moving,” said the man, who did not want to be named. “The other son was with his mother comforting her. It’s sad. I only hope the family gets the help they need.”
Medics rushed the 19-year-old to Jamaica Hospital, where he died.
“He’s a 140-pound boy,” said the neighbor. “It’s hard to think of him as being a man.”
Six months before his death, Win Rozario was admitted to Jamaica Hospital for mental health care, according to a reverend supporting the family who joined them outside the NYPD’s 102nd
Precinct stationhouse Wednesday night.
“I watched him grow up,” the Rev. James Roy told The News. “He had a psychotic problem. He was treated in Jamaica Hospital six months ago. After he was released he was a quiet, humble person. He never did a bad thing.”
Win had a “psychotic episode” about once a month, according to his younger brother.
“He was a lovely person,” said Utsho. “His biggest goal in life was to join the military. He wanted to be a Marine.”
Utsho believes Win, a John Adams High School graduate, spiraled out of control at the thought of waiting any longer to join the military.
“He wasn’t taking his medication,” said the younger brother. “He was complaining about where he was in life.”
The family immigrated from Bangladesh to the United States in 2014, settling in Queens.
“My son is gone,” wailed Costa, 49.
“My son is dead. He was a very sinless person. He did not bother the police. He didn’t do anything.”
The responding officers were not injured but were taken to an area hospital to be treated for ringing of the ears.
“Our officers come here today quickly to help,” Chell said. “This is a tragic incident for the young man, his family and our cops, who are also human beings. They come here to help, to get this person help, and they never want to use any kind of force in these situations.”
The incident came days after the death of Officer Jonathan Diller, 31, who was shot and killed during a Monday car stop in Far Rockaway.
“As our city mourns for Officer Diller — as we recover from this heinous act of violence against him — our cops still have to be out here 24/7 defending the community and helping the community and they tried to do that today with a person in mental distress,” Chell said.
City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams voiced concern over the Wednesday incident.
“There’s a lot of questions that I would like to see answered,” he told The News.
“Someone calling for assistance because they’re going through a mental health crisis should get a response that addresses the mental health crisis,” Williams added. “It doesn’t sound like that’s what happened.”