DeWitt, N.Y. — The Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office on Saturday identified the deputy who fatally shot two teens while responding to a call for suspicious vehicles in DeWitt.
The deputy is John Rosello, 34, of Cazenovia. He has been a deputy since 2016.
Rosello fired three shots at a stolen Hyundai early Wednesday morning at the Midler Meadow Mobile Home Park. The shots hit and killed Dhal Apet, 17, and Lueth Mo, 15.
Sheriff Toby Shelley on Wednesday said the driver of the car — who has not been caught — tried to run over the deputy.
Shelley said that Rosello has not previously been involved in another police shooting as a deputy.
Rosello was placed on a mandatory 72-hour paid administrative leave following the fatal shooting. He remains on paid administrative leave, Thomas Newton, a spokesperson for the sheriff’s office, said Saturday.
After the initial news conference Wednesday, the sheriff’s office has refused to answer questions about the shooting. It has referred questions to the state Attorney General’s Office, which is investigating the shootings. An AG spokesperson has said the sheriff’s office is allowed to answer questions.
Laura Collins, president of the Onondaga County Deputy Sheriff’s Police Association, issued a statement Friday.
“Policing is dangerous, and we believe our member took the action he felt the situation warranted,” she said.
Referring to the investigations’ eventual findings, she said, “Until then, we respectfully encourage everyone to await the facts before jumping to conclusions.”
Rosello was investigating a reported burglary on East Molloy Road when a 911 caller reported suspicious activity at the mobile home park on North Midler Avenue.
When he responded, he knew that the cars seen near Danzig Street and Poznan Avenue matched the description of the vehicles used in the burglary, Shelley said Wednesday.
Shelley said the stolen Hyundai drove at Rosello while he was in a narrow space between his patrol vehicle and a workbench and could not get out of the way. That led him to fire at the car, Shelley said.
The car fled and ended up crashing on Mooney Avenue in Syracuse where one teen was found dead and the other dying. The driver fled the scene.
Rosello provided a statement to the sheriff’s administration, Newton said Wednesday. It is unclear if Rosello has spoken to the Attorney General’s Office.
The sheriff’s office named Rosello employee of the month for April 2021 and June 2022.
Rosello’s base salary is $70,390. In 2022, he made $90,894, according to state payroll records.
More Syracuse.com coverage
Protest called in downtown Syracuse after two teens fatally shot by deputy
2 families grieve teens’ deaths from a deputy’s gun: ‘They did not deserve to die’ - syracuse.com
State Attorney General opens investigation into teens fatally shot by deputy in DeWitt
See sheriff’s explanation of why deputy fired shots that killed two teens (Video)
2 teens killed in DeWitt by deputy who fired at vehicle which nearly ran deputy over, sheriff says
Two people killed by police in shooting in DeWitt, authorities say
Two teens fatally shot by deputy identified; they attended Henninger High School
Staff writer Anne Hayes covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? You can reach her at ahayes@syracuse.com.