Bear Spray Unleashed Against Marchers, Police; Assailant Arrested
New York, N.Y. — Police have arrested and charged a 23-year-old Harlem resident in connection with a bear spray attack that injured 50 people and sparked a massive stampede during NYC Pride celebrations at Washington Square Park on June 29, 2025.
Dominik Sabater was taken into custody after allegedly deploying bear repellent during post-Pride festivities, leaving dozens of people with severe respiratory and eye irritation. Among the injured were 12 New York City Police Department officers who required hospitalization for treatment of breathing difficulties and eye injuries.
Chaos Erupts During Pride Celebrations
According to NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny, approximately 1,000 people had gathered in the Greenwich Village greenspace around 8:30 p.m. when a fight erupted, setting off a chain reaction of panic and confusion. Sources familiar with the investigation report that Sabater told police he believed he was about to be attacked when he pulled out the bear spray and fired the substance into the crowd.
The incident immediately triggered widespread panic among Pride celebrants, many of whom initially believed they were hearing gunshots. “We all thought some fanatic with a gun was shooting people, so of course we all ran in whatever direction would get us out of the park the fastest,” Omari Loftin, a 20-year-old witness, told reporters. “But because there were thousands and thousands of people, it became a stampede situation.”
Officer Describes Severe Physical Effects
One police officer described the sensation as “one of the worst he has ever felt and was left vomiting in the back of an ambulance.” Another officer who had previously experienced pepper spray exposure said the bear repellent felt “much more severe” than traditional law enforcement chemical agents.
“At some point, officers are made aware of a disturbance. It appears like a fight is going on. Officers rush to the scene, and they are immediately hit with an orange substance that causes them irritation to their eyes, and some of them actually couldn’t breathe,” Chief Kenny explained during a press briefing.
After deploying the spray, Sabater allegedly attempted to conceal the canister in his waistband while fleeing the scene. However, the device continued to leak the chemical substance, affecting additional people including responding officers. A community affairs officer successfully apprehended Sabater despite the ongoing chemical exposure.
Mass Casualties And Emergency Response
Emergency Medical Services personnel immediately began treating victims by flushing their eyes and providing respiratory support. Twelve officers were transported to area hospitals where they were treated for “various injuries to their eyes, their throats, their lungs, difficulty breathing,” according to Kenny.
The NYPD immediately evacuated Washington Square Park and established a security perimeter around the surrounding streets. Video footage from the scene showed scattered debris and personal belongings left behind as people fled the area in panic.
Legal Consequences And Weapons Charges
Possessing bear spray is illegal in New York City. Sabater faces multiple charges including assault, reckless endangerment, menacing, criminal possession of a weapon, obstructing governmental administration, and possessing noxious material.
The incident occurred just hours before a separate shooting near the historic Stonewall Inn that left two teenage girls wounded, adding to what authorities described as an unusually violent end to this year’s Pride celebrations, although the shootings were not said to be connected to the Pride activities.
Bear spray contains significantly higher concentrations of capsaicin than standard pepper spray used by law enforcement, making it substantially more potent and dangerous when used against humans. The substance is designed to deter large animals and can cause severe respiratory distress, temporary blindness, and intense burning sensations that can last for hours.
The case highlights ongoing concerns about public safety during large-scale events in New York City, particularly in densely populated areas like Washington Square Park where thousands of people can gather in relatively confined spaces.
Audio Summary (75 words)
Twenty-three-year-old Dominik Sabater was arrested for deploying bear spray during NYC Pride celebrations at Washington Square Park, injuring 50 people including 12 police officers. The incident sparked a massive stampede as approximately 1,000 people fled in panic. Officers described severe breathing difficulties and eye irritation, with some requiring hospitalization. Sabater faces multiple charges including assault and weapons possession. Bear spray is illegal in New York City and contains higher capsaicin concentrations than standard pepper spray.
