Alvin Bragg Drops Charges Against Man Arrested In Viral NYC ‘Snowball Fight’

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has opted not to charge the New York City resident who was arrested for allegedly hurling ice chunks at New York Police Department (NYPD) officers during a viral “snowball fight” earlier this week.

Gusmane Coulibaly, 27, was originally charged with assault on a police officer, obstruction of governmental administration and disorderly conduct for his alleged involvement in the Washington Square incident, which took place this past Monday. Officers had been called to respond to a public disturbance, at which point they were pelted with snowballs and ice chunks by several individuals who had gathered for a social-media advertised “snowball fight.”

Coulibaly had been the first individual arrested in connection with the incident, though Bragg’s office opted not to pursue the most serious charge of assaulting an officer during Coulibaly’s arraignment on Thursday evening.

The other charges were also downgraded to harassment and obstruction of governmental administration as a second-degree violation and misdemeanor, respectively, according to a criminal complaint reviewed by the New York Post.

Coulibaly, 27, was the first person arrested in connection with the February 23 incident

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani downplayed the incident while speaking with reporters on Tuesday, when he downplayed it as “kids” having a “snowball fight.” When asked whether charges should be pursued against individuals who were seen tossing ice at officers — many of whom were adults — the mayor called for leniency.

Patrick Hendry, president of the Police Benevolent Association, rejected the mayor’s framing of the incident and described it as “an attack on the uniform these police officers wear every day.”

“This was a grown adult that was here. Our police officers went to this location, on the rooftop, for a disorderly group, came down, and they were surrounded by hundreds of individuals who then attacked all police officers,” Hendry said.

The NYPD announced Wednesday that it was seeking information on four individuals in connection with the incident, including Coulibaly. All four individuals have been accused of packing ice and rocks into clumps of snow that were tossed at officers.

NYPD heroes who died protecting NYC are spinning in their graves.

They gave everything for this city—now it’s “snowball fights” at cops and zero respect.

From 9/11 fallen to officers lost in 2025, their sacrifice deserves honor, not humiliation.

It’s so sad. We've lost NYC. pic.twitter.com/Z2eoquMuCm

— 🇺🇸Steve2A🇺🇸God🇺🇸Family🇺🇸Country🇺🇸 (@lakemonstercl1) February 24, 2026

The department stated that suspects intentionally struck multiple uniformed officers with snow and ice in the head, neck, and face, causing injuries. Two officers were treated at a hospital for minor injuries, including facial lacerations, and were reported in stable condition.

“So why wasn’t assault charged? Why was harassment charged? Why do they feel that that didn’t cause an injury to a police officer, which he clearly, clearly has an injury below his eye?” Hendry said while speaking with reporters.

Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Victoria Notaro confirmed in court that one officer, identified only as “PO Johnson,” suffered redness, tenderness and pain to the left side of his face near his eye, but it was difficult to prove “that the injury was obtained directly from the defendant.”

Coulibaly did not address the court during Thursday’s arraignment, but his private attorney, George Vomvolakis, accused the NYPD of singling his client out due to Mamdani’s comments. He also leaned into the mayor’s framing of “kids” having a snowball fight, referring to the case as a “glorified summons.”

Judge Michelle Weber argued that Coulibaly’s involvement “showed a complete lack of judgment” before granting him supervised release. He is due back in court on April 9 on the remaining snowball charges.

He is also due in court on March 15 in connection with an alleged subway robbery that took place earlier this year.

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