Several New York Police Department officers were injured on Monday when a crowd threw snowballs at them while responding to Washington Square Park in Manhattan.

The incident unfolded around 4 p.m. on February 23, following a blizzard that blanketed the city in snow. Officers arrived after reports of multiple individuals climbing onto the roof of a restroom structure inside the park, where dozens had gathered for a planned snowball fight. Eyewitness Rahul Nag described it starting as "harmless fun" with young people tossing snow from the roof, which escalated into a back-and-forth exchange with police.

Videos circulating on social media captured snowballs striking officers, some appearing to retreat as projectiles flew toward them. At least two officers suffered head and face injuries, including lacerations, requiring hospital treatment. Police unions described the snowballs as containing chunks of ice and rocks.

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch condemned the episode on social media, stating, "The behavior depicted is disgraceful, and it is criminal." She confirmed detectives are investigating the matter as a potential assault. Police Benevolent Association President Patrick Hendry echoed the sentiment, calling it "a vicious attack" and demanding those responsible be "identified, arrested and charged with assault on a police officer."

On Tuesday, Mayor Zohran Mamdani addressed the videos, saying, "From the videos that I've seen, it looks like a snowball fight... it looked like kids at a snowball fight." He declined to support charges, adding that city workers, including officers aiding in snow removal and safety efforts, "deserve to be treated with respect." In a lighter note, he quipped, "The only person in our city's workforce who deserves to be hit with a snowball is me."

Governor Kathy Hochul also weighed in, declaring, "It is never acceptable to throw anything at a police officer, full stop." Former Mayor Eric Adams urged politicians to denounce the actions.

No arrests have been reported as of Tuesday evening, with the NYPD continuing its probe into the melee.