Photo: TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP / Getty Images
New York City police are searching for two suspects wanted in connection with a snowball attack that sent two officers to the hospital with facial injuries — an incident that has sparked a sharp political divide between Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the city's police unions.
According to CNN, two uniformed officers were inside Washington Square Park in Lower Manhattan on Monday when two individuals allegedly struck them repeatedly with snow and ice, causing injuries to their head, neck, and face. Both officers were taken by EMS to Northwell Greenwich Village Hospital in stable condition before being released.
The attack unfolded during a planned snowball fight meetup that drew a large crowd to the park during a historic blizzard that hit the Northeast this week. Videos of the incident went viral online, showing officers being pelted with snowballs and jeered by the crowd as they walked to their police van.
The New York Police Department (NYPD) released photos of two suspects wanted for assault on a police officer, a felony in New York City. The first suspect was described as having a light complexion and was last seen wearing a black jacket, black ski mask, and black sweatpants with white stripes. The second was described as having a dark complexion and was last seen wearing a green jacket with a blue sweatshirt underneath and blue gloves, with partial facial hair. Fox News reported that NYPD officials said the men were roughly 18 to 20 years old. No arrests had been made as of Wednesday morning.
Sergeants Benevolent Association (SBA) President Vincent Vallelong told Fox News Digital that many of the suspects are believed to be New York University (NYU) students. However, NYU spokesperson Joseph Tirella said the university found no indication anyone from NYU was involved. "We have enormous appreciation for the NYPD officers who keep our community safe," Tirella said. "Assaulting police officers is a serious offense."
Mayor Mamdani addressed the incident at a news conference, saying, "From videos I've seen, it looks like a snowball fight," and adding that he does not believe anyone involved should face assault charges. On X, he urged New Yorkers to treat officers with respect, writing, "If anyone's catching a snowball, it's me."
His comments drew swift backlash from law enforcement. The Police Benevolent Association (PBA) called his response a "failure of leadership," saying, "This was not just a 'snowball fight.' This was an assault — by adults throwing chunks of ice and rocks — that landed two police officers in the hospital with head and face injuries."
Vallelong also pushed back, warning that the behavior crossed a clear line. "Today it is snowballs. Tomorrow it could be rocks, bottles, or worse," he said.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, whom Mayor Mamdani retained from the prior administration, said on social media that the videos showed "individuals attacking cops," calling the behavior "disgraceful" and "criminal" and confirming detectives are investigating.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul, an ally of the mayor, also weighed in, saying, "Our NYPD officers put themselves on the line to protect us every day. It is never acceptable to throw anything at a police officer, full stop."
Former Mayor Eric Adams called on all elected officials to "speak out and make it clear that attacks on our officers, in any form, will not stand," and criticized politicians who "constantly bash the police," saying, "Leadership matters. Tone matters."
Former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who also ran for New York City mayor last year, pointed to Mayor Mamdani's history of criticizing law enforcement, writing on social media, "Words have consequences. We are seeing that in the growing disrespect for law enforcement."
The NYPD is asking anyone with information about the suspects to come forward. The investigation remains ongoing, and no charges have been filed as of Wednesday.
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