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SNOWBALL EFFECT: NYPD Arrests Man After Snowball Clash Injures Officers, Sparks Political Firestorm

posted by Hannity Staff - 2.26.26

Marxist Mamdani initially dismissed the event…

The New York Police Department arrested 27-year-old Gusmane Coulibaly on Thursday morning, charging him with assault for allegedly throwing packed snow and ice at officers during a chaotic snowball fight in Washington Square Park earlier this week that left multiple NYPD officers injured.

Police say the melee erupted Monday afternoon as officers responded to 911 calls about a large, disorderly group in the park amid a major snowstorm.

As uniformed officers attempted to control the scene, crowds pelted them with snowballs and chunks of ice, striking some in the head, face, and neck and sending at least two to a local hospital with injuries, according to department statements and viral videos shared online.

Coulibaly’s arrest came after days of internal debate over how to view and prosecute the episode.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani repeatedly described footage of the gathering as a snowball fight that “got out of hand” and questioned whether those involved should face criminal charges, though he emphasized that city workers — including police — deserve respect.

That position drew sharp criticism from law enforcement leaders.

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch called the conduct captured on video criminal and vowed detectives were pursuing those responsible, and the police union criticized the mayor’s comments as a failure of leadership, saying throwing ice and compacted snow at officers constitutes an attack.

Police have also released images of additional suspects they are seeking in connection with the incident.

The confrontation has fueled a broader public and political dispute in the city over public safety, the handling of disorderly gatherings, and the appropriate legal response when officers are targeted with dangerous projectiles during a large crowd event.