A playful snowball fight in New York City’s Washington Square Park spiraled into something far more serious on Monday, leaving police officers injured and sparking a criminal investigation.
The event began innocently enough, fueled by a social media call for a city-wide snowball brawl following a historic blizzard that blanketed the Northeast. Residents flocked to the park, eager to participate in what seemed like harmless fun.
However, the atmosphere quickly turned hostile as officers responding to the gathering found themselves deliberately targeted with snowballs. Videos circulating online reveal a barrage of projectiles aimed directly at law enforcement.
One particularly disturbing clip shows an individual aggressively shoving snow down an officer’s hat, while another depicts an officer visibly rubbing his eye, presumably after being struck. The frustration on the officers’ faces is palpable.
The attacks weren’t limited to individual officers. Footage also shows a large crowd pelting a police vehicle with snow as officers exited a van, creating a chaotic and dangerous scene.
The blizzard itself was record-breaking, dumping nearly half a metre of snow on Central Park – making it one of the largest snowstorms to hit New York since 1869. Schools and flights were cancelled, and power outages plagued the region.
Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch swiftly condemned the actions, labeling the behaviour as “disgraceful” and “criminal.” Investigators are now meticulously reviewing the videos to identify those responsible.
The Detectives’ Endowment Association echoed Tisch’s sentiments, denouncing the snowball attacks as a “deliberate, outrageous and dangerous attack” on uniformed officers. They are demanding that those involved face charges.
The union president called on the Mayor and District Attorney to ensure every individual who threw snowballs at officers is prosecuted, emphasizing the need to protect and respect those who serve.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani initially responded by stating he believed the videos showed children throwing snowballs at officers, and offered to take the brunt of the projectiles himself.
However, this statement appears to minimize the severity of the situation, as the available footage suggests the attacks were largely perpetrated by adults targeting officers as they arrived at the park.
The incident raises serious questions about the boundaries of public expression and the safety of law enforcement officers responding to large gatherings, even those initially intended as lighthearted fun.
