Snow-splattered officers pelted in Manhattan snowball incident divides city leaders

A widely shared video shows officers hit by snowballs in Washington Square Park; Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch called it criminal assault and detectives are investigating, while Mayor Zohran Mamdani described it as children at a snowball fight and declined to call it a crime.

A video circulating on social media shows New York police officers being struck by snowballs during a crowd event in a Manhattan park. The footage prompted public debate about whether participants crossed a legal line or were taking part in a spontaneous snowball fight. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the video depicted individuals attacking officers and announced that detectives were investigating. Mayor Zohran Mamdani characterized the scene as kids throwing snowballs and declined to say it was a crime. What is known: - A video widely shared online shows officers being pelted with snow in Washington Square Park. - Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch described the incident as criminal assault and said detectives are investigating. - Mayor Zohran Mamdani said the footage appeared to show children at a snowball fight and did not explicitly agree that a crime occurred. - Police reported that two officers sustained lacerations and were taken to a nearby hospital in stable condition. Summary: The incident has prompted a departmental investigation and differing statements from city leaders, drawing public attention to how such events are classified. Undetermined at this time.