Union Square Riot - 16 Sought for Wrecking BMW

65 Already Arrested on Various Charges during Riot 

Police are searching for 16 people in connection with the vandalism of a car during the Union Square Riot. -Photo by NYPD

By David Greene 

Manhattan Voice 

August 15, 2023 

NEW YORK - More fallout from the Union Square Riot in which a video game console giveaway got out of hand and crowds damaged property. Cops are searching for 16 people for wrecking a BMW parked near Union Square. 

Police released new surveillance video from the riot which highlights the faces of the suspects, cops say, wrecked a car parked near the scene.

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According to investigators, at around 2:45 pm on August 4, 16 people caused damage to a 2011 BMW sedan. People were video taped climbing on top and then jumping on the car which was parked in front of 15 Union Square West.  

The investigation into the busted up BMW comes on the heels of scores of arrests the Union Square Riot.

At least 65 people have been arrested, including 31 juveniles including at least one confirmed Bronxite who engaged in a running battle with police on the streets surrounding Union Square and broadcast live to televisions around the world.

According to police the incident unfolded at 12:30 p.m. on August 4, at Union Square in Manhattan when “influencer / gamer” Kai Cenat allegedly posted that he would be giving away free games—when all hell broke loose.

As police made arrests and placed those in custody onto a bus, officers reported that a large crowd had surrounded the bus. The full-fledged riot turned into a street-by-street battle with dinner plates and construction cones becoming projectiles.

At a press conference after order was eventually restored, NYPD’s Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey told reporters, “Our entertainment unit and our Intelligence Division became aware of this post submitted by an influencer saying that he was going to be here today, and he was going to give away some gaming systems.”

According to Maddrey several police vehicles were destroyed as well as several food carts and a construction area was breached and suffered extensive damage. 

A 17-year-old was one of at least four civilians injured, when someone threw an M-80 into a crowd. At least one NYPD sergeant was treated for a broken hand.

Maddrey noted that Cenat was charged with two counts of inciting a riot and one count of unlawful assembly. He added, “The power of social media and the danger of social media. We went from 300 kids to a couple of thousand kids in minutes, minutes. We have to be responsible when we use this tool.”

The following day the NYPD released a series of photos of eight male individuals who kicked and jumped on an NYPD vehicle. 

On August 10 police announced the arrest of Shamel Chillious, 18, of Bivona Street in the Eastchester section of the Bronx. Chillious was charged with criminal mischief, inciting a riot, obstruction of government administration, riot, unlawful assembly, and disorderly conduct. Attempts to reach Chillious were unsuccessful.

Anyone with information in regard to this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the CrimeStoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/ or on Twitter @NYPDTips. 

All calls are strictly confidential.