A massive snowball fight in Washington Square Park escalated into chaos as snowballs were thrown toward officers from the New York City Police Department.
Video from the scene shows hundreds gathered in the park during heavy snowfall, with what initially appeared to be a playful snowball fight quickly shifting into a more tense standoff. Groups can be seen packing snow and launching it in the direction of officers as shouting fills the air.
At one point, officers appear to reposition and step back as snowballs continue flying in their direction. As the barrage intensifies, police are seen pulling out pepper spray and aiming it toward sections of the crowd in an apparent effort to deter further escalation.
The situation grows more chaotic when several individuals climb onto a nearby rooftop, using the elevated position to throw snowballs down into the crowd below. The elevated angle appears to increase the volume and distance of snowballs being launched, drawing even more attention from onlookers.
While snowball fights are often harmless winter fun, law enforcement officials warn that large projectiles — especially when packed tightly or mixed with ice — can cause injury. Crowded environments combined with objects being thrown can quickly create unsafe conditions.
It remains unclear whether any arrests were made or whether pepper spray was ultimately deployed. Officers appeared focused on crowd control and preventing the situation from spiraling further.
Washington Square Park has long been a gathering place for large public events and spontaneous celebrations, but large crowds can shift rapidly from festive to volatile.
Authorities have not yet released an official statement regarding the incident.
Watch the full footage below to see how the scene unfolded.
