Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

NEW YORK — Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, an indictment was unsealed charging Luis Rosario with being a felon in possession of ammunition relating to a Dec. 3, 2023, shooting in the Red Hook section of Brooklyn. Rosario was arrested this morning and will be arraigned this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Peggy Kuo. 

Breon Peace, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Tommy Kalogiros, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) New York Field Division; and Edward A. Caban, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD) announced the arrest and indictment.

“As alleged, Rosario is a convicted felon who shot and injured a man in broad daylight on a Brooklyn sidewalk without regard for the victim or passersby who were in the line of fire,” said U.S. Attorney Peace. “Today’s arrest and indictment demonstrates the important work that this office and our law enforcement partners are doing to reduce gun violence in our communities.”

“With today’s indictment, the NYPD continues its tireless efforts to rid our communities of gun violence,” stated NYPD Commissioner Caban. “I thank all of our law enforcement partners for their dedication to this critical aspect of our public safety mission.”

“The callous disregard for life will not be tolerated under any circumstance. This indictment demonstrates the commitment of law enforcement and prosecutors working together at all levels. ATF NY is laser-focused on targeting the most significant drivers of violent crime in our communities. I commend the work of ATF NY’s Joint Firearms Task Force, NYPD’s Brooklyn South Violent Crime Squad, NYPD’s 76th Precinct, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Secret Service and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York. We are dedicated to protecting the public and holding trigger pullers accountable for their actions,” stated ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Kalogiros. 

As alleged in the indictment and other court filings, on Dec. 3, 2023, Rosario fired multiple shots from close range at three men standing on the sidewalk outside of a supermarket and restaurant located across the street from a housing development in Red Hook. Surveillance video footage shows Rosario pulling a gun from his jacket and opening fire while passersby were walking along the sidewalk. Rosario shot one man in the leg, causing him to collapse. As the wounded victim lay on the sidewalk, Rosario got into a car and drove it directly toward the victim, running over his foot.

Rosario has a prior felony conviction. On June 20, 2016, he was convicted in Bronx County Supreme Court of knowingly making or possessing dangerous contraband in prison in the first degree.

The charge in the indictment is an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Rosario faces up to 15 years in prison.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. As part of the program, U.S. Attorney’s Offices work in partnership with federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement and their local communities to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York is currently partnering with the SCPD, the NYPD, the FBI, ATF, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (DHS/HSI), and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in its PSN mission.

The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Section. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew M. Roddin and James R. Simmons are in charge of the prosecution.

Defendant:
Luis Rosario
Age: 30
Cliffside Park, New Jersey

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 24-CR-20 (RER)

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