A second arrest has been made after a violent snowball assault in New York City’s Washington Square Park sent two police officers to the hospital. Authorities say the incident escalated far beyond a typical winter gathering after participants allegedly hurled snowballs packed with ice and rocks at responding officers.
The New York Police Department confirmed that 18-year-old Eric Wilson Jr. turned himself in Wednesday morning. Police charged him with misdemeanor obstructing government administration and harassment in connection with the confrontation.
Police Benevolent Association President Patrick Hendry said the arrests reflect the seriousness of the incident. “This second arrest sends an important message,” Hendry said. “These shameful attacks on our police officers last week were serious. It wasn’t a game. It didn’t end when the snow melted. This was a vicious attack on our police officers and, our police officers, it had consequences on them.”
The snowball fight began last Monday as an organized event promoted on social media. When NYPD officers arrived to manage the crowd, participants allegedly began throwing snowballs at them. According to police officials, some snowballs reportedly contained ice or rocks. Two officers suffered head and facial injuries and required hospital treatment.
Authorities previously arrested 27-year-old Gusmane Coulibaly in connection with the incident. Prosecutors initially considered a felony assault charge but later reduced it to misdemeanor obstruction of government administration and harassment after determining there was no direct proof linking him to the officers’ injuries.
Hendry strongly rejected claims that the event was harmless. “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,” he said.
New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch called the behavior criminal. “I want to be very clear,” Tisch said. “The behavior depicted is disgraceful, and it is criminal. Our detectives are investigating this matter.”
Governor Kathy Hochul supported criminal charges, stating, “Our police officers put themselves in harm’s way every single day, and there is no circumstance where it’s OK to throw anything at a police officer.”
