AG Exposes Fatal Police Shooting in Nassau Through Bodycam Release

Body camera footage released by New York Attorney General Letitia James' office reveals that Nassau police repeatedly instructed James Rosano, 33, to drop the weapon in his hand before an officer fatally shot him outside a Carle Place residence. The incident occurred after midnight on September 3, with footage from officers Logan, Rosales, and Udle detailing the confrontation on Rushmore Avenue. The state's investigation into Rosano's death remains ongoing, as mandated by law for incidents where a death may have been caused by a police officer.

The released footage, which sometimes appeared blurry, showed Rosano stumbling around the side of the home. He was observed holding what the Attorney General’s Office of Special Investigation described as appearing to be a long gun in his right hand. This weapon was later recovered by police and identified as an air rifle. Officers Logan and Udle aimed their flashlights and service weapons at Rosano, consistently shouting commands for him to “drop the gun.”

As the encounter unfolded, Officer Udle, positioned near a vehicle in the driveway, discharged his service weapon once. The single shot struck Rosano in the chest. At the moment of the shooting, the barrel of Rosano's weapon reportedly appeared to be facing downward. Following the shooting, Rosano was transported to NYU Langone Hospital-Long Island in Mineola, where he was pronounced dead.

Prior to the shot, Officer Rosales had been speaking with a woman just inside the front door of the residence before stepping out onto the porch's accessibility ramp. He then radioed for additional units, stating, “I have a suspect with a weapon.” The initial police response stemmed from a 911 call from an individual who expressed fear for their safety. Homicide Squad Det. Capt. Stephen Fitzpatrick previously confirmed that Rosano's mother had placed the 911 call and informed police at the scene of her son's history of alcohol and substance abuse, believing he was under the influence at the time of the call.

Further details regarding Rosano's history were provided by Fitzpatrick, indicating that police had responded to previous 911 calls concerning him in 2010 and 2022. These past incidents involved reports of depression, overdosing, and intoxication. Rosano's mother, Janet Rosano, later told Newsday in a phone interview that she had not been notified by the Attorney General’s office about the release of the body camera footage.

The Attorney General’s office emphasized that the release of the footage is a procedural step in its ongoing investigation and does not signify an opinion on the guilt or innocence of any party in a criminal matter, nor does it express any opinion on how or whether any individual may be charged with a crime. This ongoing review is a standard practice under state law for deaths potentially caused by law enforcement.