In Albany, New York, the Attorney General of the state, Letitia James, announced that there will be no criminal charges brought against Sheriff’s Deputy John Rosello for the fatal shooting of two Black teenagers who were fleeing in a vehicle in 2023.
An official investigative report from James’ office detailed that it would be improbable for prosecutors to convincingly challenge Rosello’s belief that he was in imminent danger of being struck by the vehicle. The report highlighted that the deputy might have perceived opening fire as a necessary measure to protect himself.
The incident unfolded as Deputy Rosello, from the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office, responded to a report involving a suspected burglary at a smoke shop in the Syracuse region. He was also addressing another call concerning individuals transferring goods between two cars. This particular call ultimately led to the tragic events involving Dhal Apet, 17, and Lueth Mo, 15, who lost their lives due to the shooting.
Surveillance footage previously released by the attorney general’s office captures Deputy Rosello using his police SUV’s front bumper to trap a vehicle by pressing it against a line of bushes. Exiting his SUV, Rosello temporarily positioned himself in front of the car occupied by Apet and Mo, stepping aside with his firearm aimed at the car as it started moving forward.
As illustrated by the video and the corresponding report, Rosello maintained his firearm pointed at the vehicle as it passed him and sped away. Due to the absence of audio in the footage—captured from across the street—the timeline of when Rosello began and ceased shooting remains uncertain. The deputy had not activated his body camera before the incident, leaving additional gaps in recorded evidence.
According to the report provided by James, Rosello used his radio to communicate that a “white car tried to run me over” and that “shots [were] fired.”
Ultimately, Apet and Mo were discovered slumped inside a car more than a mile from the initial confrontation scene. Apet was declared dead onsite, while Mo succumbed to his injuries later the same day at a hospital.
The families of Apet and Mo have not provided further comments about the legal decision, opting to maintain privacy during this somber time.