A man who sprayed bear repellent at a Pride March crowd in Washington Square Park, injuring more than 50 people, was released Tuesday evening, prosecutors said.
Dominick Sabater, 23, was granted supervised release following his arraignment at Manhattan Criminal Court. He was arrested for assault, reckless endangerment and possession of a noxious chemical — bear repellent in a clear container adorned with a picture of a bear.
The incident sparked panic Sunday around 8:30 p.m. when Sabater was seen taking out an 8.1 ounce can of bear spray that contained capsaicin — an active component of chili peppers — and sprayed it into the crowd of around 1,000 revelers after the Pride March down Fifth Ave. wrapped up, prosecutors said.
AP Photo/Olga Fedorova
Victims receive treatment after pepper spray is deployed during a fight in Washington Square Park after the NYC Pride March on Sunday, June 29, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Olga Fedorova)
Sabater told cops he unleashed the spray because he believed he was going to get jumped, according to court documents.
People ran in all directions from the crowded park, with many appearing to have difficulty breathing, gagging, and rubbing their eyes. Many also stated they couldn’t see and needed medical attention, authorities said.
Medics treated 47 people at the scene, with four others taken to Bellevue Hospital, and two others taken to Northwell Greenwich Village Hospital; also injured were 11 police officers, who reported having difficulty breathing, burning sensations, and pain to their eyes and throats, police said.
Sabater has three prior arrests, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said on Monday.
Bear repellent can be up to three times more potent than the pepper spray often used to fight off muggers.
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