Story perspectives

Snowball Incident: Charges Against Coulibaly Downgraded, Sparks Outrage

2/27/2026

Summary

Story summary

The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office did not charge Gusmane Coulibaly, 27, with assault on a police officer during his arraignment for allegedly throwing snowballs at NYPD officers.
Other charges against Coulibaly were reduced to harassment and obstruction.
Police Benevolent Association President Patrick Hendry criticized the downgraded charges, calling the incident an attack on officers.
Coulibaly's attorney, George Vomvolakis, claimed the NYPD was misdirecting anger towards Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
Coulibaly was granted supervised release and is set to appear in court on April 9 for the snowball charges.

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Story summary

The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office did not charge Gusmane Coulibaly, 27, with assault on a police officer during his arraignment for allegedly throwing snowballs at NYPD officers.
Other charges against Coulibaly were reduced to harassment and obstruction.
Police Benevolent Association President Patrick Hendry criticized the downgraded charges, calling the incident an attack on officers.
Coulibaly's attorney, George Vomvolakis, claimed the NYPD was misdirecting anger towards Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
Coulibaly was granted supervised release and is set to appear in court on April 9 for the snowball charges.