Manhattan DA Drops Assault Charge Against Snowball Attack Suspect

Charges downgraded to harassment and obstruction as officer remains on sick leave

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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The Manhattan District Attorney's Office has refused to pursue an assault charge against Gusmane Coulibaly, the 27-year-old at the center of the Washington Square Park snowball melee that left an NYPD officer injured. The remaining charges were downgraded to harassment and obstruction of governmental administration.

Why it matters

This case highlights concerns about accountability for attacks on police officers, as the DA's office chose not to pursue the more serious assault charge despite an officer being injured. It also raises questions about the mayor's and defense attorney's efforts to minimize the incident.

The details

At Coulibaly's arraignment, Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Victoria Notaro told the court it was difficult to prove "that the injury was obtained directly from the defendant" regarding the injured officer, PO Johnson. The Police Benevolent Association president Patrick Hendry criticized the downgraded charges, saying the snowball attack was "an attack on the uniform these police officers wear every day." Coulibaly's attorney, George Vomvolakis, claimed his client "had no idea what the intent was" and accused the NYPD of taking out its frustrations with Mayor Zohran Mamdani on the defendant.

  • On February 28, 2026, the Manhattan District Attorney's Office refused to pursue an assault charge against Gusmane Coulibaly.
  • Coulibaly is due back in court on April 9, 2026 for the snowball charges and on March 15, 2026 for an alleged straphanger shakedown.

The players

Gusmane Coulibaly

A 27-year-old man at the center of the Washington Square Park snowball melee that left an NYPD officer injured.

Victoria Notaro

Manhattan Assistant District Attorney who told the court it was difficult to prove the officer's injury was directly caused by the defendant.

Patrick Hendry

President of the Police Benevolent Association, who criticized the downgraded charges and called the snowball attack "an attack on the uniform these police officers wear every day."

George Vomvolakis

Coulibaly's private attorney, who characterized the downgraded charges as a "glorified summons" and claimed his client "had no idea what the intent was."

Zohran Mamdani

The mayor of New York City, who initially dismissed the incident as "kids doing snowballs."

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What they’re saying

“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.”

— Patrick Hendry, President, Police Benevolent Association (New York Post)

“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?”

— Patrick Hendry, President, Police Benevolent Association (New York Post)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on April 9, 2026 whether to allow Gusmane Coulibaly to remain on supervised release.

The takeaway

This case highlights the challenges of holding attackers accountable when the criminal justice system appears unwilling to take assaults on police officers seriously, raising concerns about the message sent to officers on the streets of Manhattan.