Union Square Riot - More Suspects Sought, More Photos of Attacks on NYPD Cars

Police are searching for 11 people who attacked two police cars during the Union Square Riot. -Photo by NYPD

By Dan Gesslein 

Manhattan Voice 

August 8, 2023 

NEW YORK - The NYPD is  looking for 11 people for attacks on two police cars during Friday’s Union Square Riot. 

Multiple people were photographed jumping on one squad car and shattering the windshield. In a separate attack on a different car, one person was caught on camera shattering the glass by throwing a traffic cone on the windshield. 

The first unmarked police cruiser was damaged at around 2 pm on August 4. The car was parked in front of 850 Broadway, a movie theater a block away from Union Square where thousands gathered for a PS5 giveaway from influencer Kai Cenat. 

Cops said three males, ages 15 to 18 took turns jumping and stomping atop the NYPD vehicle eventually shattering the windshield. Investigators released still photos from video which showed the suspects jumping on and kicking the car. One suspect is photographed throwing a traffic cone into the windshield causing it to shatter.

The second act of vandalism happened two hours later a block away from the first incident. Cops said eight males kicked and jumped on the police cruiser parked at 830 Broadway at around 4 pm. Police released multiple photos from the scene which showed the suspects jumping on the hood of the car and their feet smashing into the windshield as it shattered.  

Police released photos from the scores of video taken during Friday’s wild scene in which thousands of people swarmed Union Square in the hope of getting a free PS5 during a giveaway set up by influencer Kai Cenat. Cops said the 21-year-old social media sensation did not have a permit for the giveaway. 

So far 66 people have been arrested in the influencer riot. Video from news crews and cell phone witnesses documented people destroying construction equipment in the park; stomping on cars; wrecking a hot dog stand as well as stomping on restaurant sheds; setting off fireworks in a crowd; climbing on cars and blocking traffic during the Friday Rush Hour event. 

Cenat was charged with inciting a riot and unlawful assembly. He was given a desk-appearance ticket.

Cenat’s PR firm issued a statement in response to the melee: "We are deeply disheartened by the outbreak of disorderly conduct that affected innocent people and businesses, and do not condone that behavior.

“We apologize to all of those impacted. We are fully cooperating with local authorities."

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.