NEW YORK-UNS: The family of Bangladeshi teen Win Rozario, Justice Committee, and Desis Rising Up & Moving (DRUM) held a Richmond Hill vigil and march commemorating the year since Win was killed by the NYPD in his home. Win Rozario’s family and those present criticized the lack of action by the Mayor, NYPD and state Attorney General and called for the firing and prosecution of NYPD Officers Salvatore Alongi and Matthew Cianfrocco for their killing of Win a year ago. On March 27, 2024, NYPD Officers Salvatore Alongi and Matthew Cianfrocco tased, shot and killed 19-year-old Win Rozario in his home in front of his mother and younger brother, killing him within two minutes of their arrival.
Win Rozario’s family, Justice Committee, DRUM and supporters were joined at the vigil by elected officials, including Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and state Senator Jessica Ramos; and families of New Yorkers killed by the NYPD, including Valerie Bell, the mother of Sean Bell (killed by the NYPD in 2006 in nearby Jamaica, Queens) and Samy Feliz, the brother of Allan Feliz (killed by NYPD in 2019). Following the vigil at Lt. Frank McConnell Park, Win Rozario’s family and supporters marched to the local precinct of the NYPD, where Alongi and Cianfrocco had been assigned when they killed Win Rozario.
During the vigil, Win Rozario’s mother, Notan Eva Costa, shared that she didn’t want to speak today and stated: “As a mother, my two sons are like my two hands. The NYPD robbed my son of a natural life. I need you to know the names of the police that murdered Win: Salvatore Alongi and Matthew Cianfrocco. These murderers must be fired and prosecuted.”
Win Rozario’s younger brother, Utsho Rozario, who was present when Alongi and Cianfrocco killed Win, sharing memories of his brother, stated: “He loved animals, and they loved him back, especially our cat – even though it was my cat, she liked Win more than me.”
“Officers Salvatore Alongi and Matthew Cianfrocco tased, shot and killed my son in less than 2 minutes,” said Francis Rozario, father of Win Rozario. “They treated him like he didn’t matter and it’s a miracle they didn’t also kill my other son and wife who were there. The NYPD is too powerful in this city, they are getting away with murder.”
Win Rozario’s family and supporters are calling for Officers Salvatore Alongi and Matthew Cianfrocco to be fired and prosecuted, for police to be removed from mental health responses, and for the additional NYPD officials who prevented the Rozarios from returning to their apartment to be publicly identified and disciplined. The family is also requesting an update from the Mayor and the NYPD on their mandated investigation, of which they have received no news over the past year.
While Win Rozario’s family is aware that the Attorney General and the Civilian Complaint Review Board investigations are ongoing, the family has not been updated on the NYPD’s investigation over the past year. Win’s brother, Utsho Rozario commented on the obstruction and lack of action by Mayor Adams and the NYPD, stating: “It’s also awful that the mayor and NYPD have never once updated my family on the NYPD investigation into Win’s murder. We’re demanding that they update my family on the NYPD investigation”.
“From the moment Alongi and Cianfrocco came on the scene, they were using insulting language related to Win, and when they got to his apartment they created a chaotic crisis,” remarked Loyda Colón (they/them), Executive Director of the Justice Committee. “This was a cold-blooded murder by hyper-aggressive and reckless cops. The lack of action and deafening silence from Mayor Adams and the NYPD in the year since shows just how deep the corruption runs – they would rather protect murderous cops than care for New Yorkers and their families.”
“Win Rozario should be alive and at home with his family. Instead, his family have suffered a year of silence and uncertainty after the murder of their son and brother by NYPD officers Matthew Cianfrocco and Salvatore Alongi,” said Simran Thind, Organizer with Desis Rising Up & Moving. “Mayor Eric Adams and Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch are shielding Cianfrocco and Alongi from accountability by refusing to take disciplinary action and fire the officers. Mayor Adams and the NYPD have shown more care to these dangerous officers than to Win’s family whom NYPD mistreated in the hours and days following Win’s murder. We call on all our communities to stand in solidarity with the Rozario family and take action for Win!”
“It shouldn’t take a year for New York to admit these officers murdered Win Rosario. The videos make it beyond clear these officers were reckless and dangerous. It’s a miracle they only killed one person that day,” said David Rankin (he/him), Beldock Levine & Hoffman LLP.
BACKGROUND:19-year-old Win Rozario was in his Ozone Park, Queens home when he was killed by NYPD Officers Salvatore Alongi and Matthew Cianfrocco on March 27, 2024, in front of his mother and younger brother. Officers Alongi and Cianfrocco created a crisis when they arrived and recklessly escalated the situation multiple times. Officers Alongi and Cianfrocco tased and shot Win multiple times within less than two minutes after entering the family’s apartment, unjustifiably killing the teen and risking the lives of Win’s mother and brother.
For over a month after Win Rozario was killed, the NYPD blocked transparency, including refusing to release the names or employment status of the officers involved. Alongi and Cianfrocco’s names were first publicly identified by the Attorney General’s office when they released officer body camera footage on May 3, 2024. Mayor Adams’ first, and only, public statements regarding the killing were issued only after the Attorney General released body camera footage, over five weeks after Win was killed after being questioned by press. In the statement and after being questioned by reporters, Mayor Adams falsely claimed that he had reached out to the family after the incident, and falsely claimed that discipline would have to wait until after the Attorney General’s investigation concluded with a determination.
For the past year, Win Rozario’s family, along with the Justice Committee and Desis Rising Up & Moving, have called for the NYPD to fire – and for the NYS Attorney General to prosecute – NYPD officers Alongi and Cianfrocco. They are also calling for police to be removed from the city’s mental health response.
The Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) and the New York State Attorney General are still investigating the killing. The family has received no updates from Mayor Adams or the NYPD about the NYPD’s mandated investigation. While mayors sometimes falsely claim that officer disciplinary processes must wait until after prosecutor determinations, there is no mandate to delay discipline. In fact, Francis Livoti, who killed Anthony Baez in 1994, was fired from the NYPD before federal prosecutors convicted Livoti for violating Baez’s civil rights.
About the Justice Committee: Since the 1980s, the Justice Committee (JC) has been dedicated to building a movement against police violence and systemic racism in New York City. The heart of our work is organizing and uplifting the leadership of families who have lost loved ones to the police and survivors of police violence. We empower our community to deter police violence, hold law enforcement accountable, and build people-led community safety through grassroots organizing campaigns, community empowerment, political education, our CopWatch program, and by developing safety mechanisms and projects that decrease reliance on police. By building solidarity with other anti-racist, immigrant and people of color-led organizations, the Justice Committee seeks to contribute to a broad-based movement for racial, social, and economic justice.
