NEW YORK (VINnews) — Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo sharply criticized Mayor Zohran Mamdani on social media Thursday after a 27-year-old man was arrested for throwing snowballs at NYPD officers in Washington Square Park.

Gusmane Coulibaly was taken into custody for assaulting officers earlier this week. Police said he had been arrested less than three weeks ago for attempted robbery in the city’s transit system.

In a tweet, Cuomo said, “A 27-year-old with prior arrests pelting police officers with ice and causing lacerations is not ‘children having a snowball fight.’ The only child here is you, @NYCMayor. Denounce this now. Stand with public safety. Stand with the NYPD.”

The criticism comes after Mamdani initially described the incident as a snowball fight involving “kids,” prompting backlash from law enforcement and public safety advocates.

The NYPD called the arrest a significant step in holding adults accountable for the attack, which left officers injured. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch previously described the incident as “criminal” and “disgraceful.”

A 27-year-old with prior arrests pelting police officers with ice and causing lacerations is not “children having a snowball fight.” The only child here is you, @NYCMayor.

Denounce this now. Stand with public safety. Stand with the NYPD.

Despite your past rhetoric, they are not… https://t.co/f3FpQvUHoF

— Andrew Cuomo (@andrewcuomo) February 26, 2026