NYPD Seeks Suspects in Assault on Officer During Snowball Fight

The NYPD is looking for two individuals involved in a mob incident that occurred on Monday, where a police officer was attacked during what was meant to be a snowball fight, leaving the officer with several injuries.

According to a post on their Facebook page, police officers were stationed in Washington Square Park when the two individuals targeted one officer, hitting them with snow and ice numerous times. The resulting injuries affected the officer’s head, neck, and face. The NYPD is urging anyone who may have information to reach out via @NYPDTips or by calling 800-577-TIPS.

The police are specifically categorizing these two suspects as “wanted for assault on a police officer.” This incident reportedly took place shortly after 4 p.m. when officers were called to the park in response to reports of individuals on a roof. Almost immediately, they found themselves under fire from snowballs, leading several officers to be hospitalized due to cuts and other minor injuries.

New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani faced backlash on Tuesday regarding his response to the incident. His comments, which downplayed the situation, have drawn criticism from various politicians who suggest that his previous comments against the police might have contributed to the aggressive behavior displayed during the incident.

When asked whether he supported the police’s intention to pursue legal action against the suspects, Mamdani responded, “I don’t. From the video I saw, it looks like a snowball fight.”

The NYPD’s social media post about the suspects received over 17,000 comments by Wednesday morning, revealing a mix of support and criticism. Many users mocked the police’s attempts to characterize the event as more serious than it appeared. One commenter pointed out, “They showed up for a snowball fight. What were they expecting? There must have been a lot of casualties.”

Yet others took a contrary stance, conveying their discontent over how the situation escalated and was caught on camera.

• One person commented, “It doesn’t look like a snowball fight to me, Mamdani.”
• Another remarked that a real snowball fight necessitates two opposing sides, stating, “As far as I can see, the NYPD wasn’t throwing snowballs.”
• A different commentator observed that police did not find the situation humorous, noting that they showed restraint in dealing with aggressive behavior.
• One user quipped, “The mayor will arrest you if you throw snowballs back at the cops.”