Earlier today, an arrest was finally made in the attack on NYPD officers that Mayor Mamdani has repeatedly downplayed as a mere, fun and light-hearted “snowball fight.”
Our original report on that here:
JUST IN: Arrest Finally Made In New York City “Snowball Fight”
27-year-old Gusmane Coulibaly -- who also goes by the name "Diaper Man" (yes really) on social media -- was arrested for partaking in the "snowball fight" that injured multiple officers.
Here's the video of him being taken into custody:
JUST IN: Gusmane Coulibaly, 27, has been arrested by the NYPD on assault charges after police were pelted with snowballs, injuring some officers.
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) February 26, 2026
Zohran Mamdani has downplayed this assault on police multiple times, saying it was "just a snowball fight."pic.twitter.com/2JMBdf2HgR
But now, he's being let off the hook.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is dropping the assault charge against him.
Coulibaly's lawyer delivered remarks after the charge was dropped.
Watch here:
🚨 BREAKING: Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg has DROPPED the assauIt charge against 27-year-old West African Gusmane Coulibaly, who threw ice balls at NYPD officers
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) February 27, 2026
This guy was also indicted for robbery 3 weeks ago, but is ONCE AGAIN free.
NYC IS A JOKE.
pic.twitter.com/eaqDratSzI
Absolutely ridiculous.
Coulibaly still faces a misdemeanor for obstructing and harassment.
But, this is significantly less than he should be for such a serious offense.
Basically, he's getting a slap on the wrist.
The New York Post reported:
Gusmane Coulibaly, 27, was originally charged with assault on a police officer, obstruction of governmental administration and disorderly conduct for his alleged involvement in a snowball free-for-all in Washington Square Park.
Man in green jacket and red wrap, holding a bottle, with a police officer behind him.But the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office declined to pursue the cop assault charge during his arraignment 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.
Patrick Hendry, the president of the Police Benevolent Association, told reporters that the purported “playful snowball fight” was “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.
Hendry claimed that Coulibaly and the three suspects still at large knowingly packed the snow with ice and rocks before launching it at cops — and balked at the “downplayed” charges.
“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.
By the way, this isn't Coulibaly's first brush with the law.
He was arrested just weeks before the "snowball fight" for attempted robbery.
Per NBC New York:
According to the NYPD, Coulibaly had been arrested a few weeks before the snowball incident for attempted robbery. But his brother alleges the robbery was a recorded prank involving phony demands for a stranger to hand over cash. He said Coulibaly, under the YouTube account Life of Diaper, shoots videos of manufactured confrontations, including with police.
This isn't some innocent kid who didn't know what he was doing; this is a full-grown man with a criminal history.
It's totally absurd not to hold him accountable for assaulting officers.
What message does that send?
Now we can look forward to his next act.
— Denver_Diva 🇺🇸 (@shelton2053) February 27, 2026
Very sad to see.
This is how much New York cares about its officers.
— Ana S. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 (@wirelessany1) February 27, 2026
New York values criminals more than citizens and police officers.
Law-abiding citizens better take note that when their officers quit, this is why.
NYC is cooked.
