A tragic incident unfolded in the early hours on Long Island, where Nassau County Police officers fatally shot a man identified as 33-year-old James Rosano after he confronted them with what appeared to be a shotgun, later determined to be a BB gun. According to reports by ABC7NY, the officers were called to a residence on Rushmore Avenue in Carle Place around 12:30 a.m. following a call from Rosano's mother who described her son as "out of control, highly intoxicated and refused to leave."
Upon arrival, officers reportedly found Rosano "very irate" and, after shouting commands to put the gun down, were forced to discharge their weapons when he allegedly waved the weapon. ABC7NY noted that Rosano's mother had been pushed out of the way for her safety, by the officers. After being struck once in the chest, Rosano was pronounced dead at NYU Langone Hospital-Long Island.
Investigations following the shooting revealed Rosano's criminal history, including multiple arrests for assaults and issues with substance abuse, as detailed in interviews conducted by CBS News. Detective Captain Stephen Fitzpatrick stated that the department had responded to past calls involving Rosano for depression, intoxication, and overdose. Fitzpatrick further detailed Rosano had a recent arrest on September 1 for assaulting his girlfriend.
Fitzpatrick described the moments leading up to the shooting in a statement obtained by CBS News, saying Rosano had exited the backdoor and approached the officers between two houses, after telling his mother he was going to "die by the police." The site remained cordoned off for hours as investigators collected evidence. The body camera footage from the officers involved has been sent to the New York Attorney General's office for review, which is a standard procedure in such incidents.
