Current:Home > FinanceYouTuber Kai Cenat Playstation giveaway draws out-of-control crowd to Union Square Park-LoTradeCoin
YouTuber Kai Cenat Playstation giveaway draws out-of-control crowd to Union Square Park
View Date:2024-12-23 22:50:34
A video game giveaway caused havoc in New York City after thousands of people flocked Union Square Park hoping to be a the lucky winner.
Popular comedy Twitch streamer Kai Cenat announced a few of his fans could win free Playstation 5 consoles at 4 p.m. in Union Square, eventually leading to the swarm of people. Police say they struggled to contain the thousands of people who took over took the park and the roads.
The YouTuber posted a photo of ABC7's aerial footage of the crowd on his Instagram story.
Arrests have been made but the New York Police Department told USA TODAY they can't give a concrete number of how many arrests and injuries have occurred as early Friday evening.
"At approximately 3 p.m., the post went viral and thousands of people began to arrive at Union Square. Soon the park and the surrounding streets were overrun with people. They were obstructing vehicular and pedestrian traffic," New York Police Chief Jeffrey Maddrey said at a press conference Friday. "After numerous warnings and being assailed [and] hit with rocks, bottles and other debris, we started to make arrests to clear out the park.
Officers eventually removed Cenat for safety purposes and he was in police custody early Friday evening, Maddrey said. He added that several people in the crowd sustained injuries, as well as some officers.
Much of the crowd had left the area by 7 p.m., but officers were continuing to monitor some groups that were moving around Manhattan, Maddrey said.
Queens train derailment:13 injured as train carrying about 100 passengers derails in NYC
Maddrey said officers have been in contact with Cenat but that he will speak with department leaders before deciding whether and what action to take against the influencer.
"We'll discuss with our legal department about citing a riot and other charges," Maddrey said.
The mass of people reportedly threw objects at officers requiring them to take cover behind cars and holding pieces of plywood, according to ABC7. Some people in the crowd threw paint cans and other equipment while others climbed up the a gazebo and the George Washington statue.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority said all subway trains were functioning after the swam of people bypassed a stop near Union Square Park for a short time.
USA TODAY has reached out to Cenat's representatives for comment.
Maddrey said the department will work to find ways to prevent future occurrences.
"Most of it was within the park. The young people in the park were throwing objects at each other. They were dancing. They were doing a whole lot of stuff but they were hurting each other while doing it," Maddrey said. "We have encounted things like this before but never to this level of dangerousness where young people would not listen to our commands, they were fighting each other, they were hurting each other and they were turning their attacks on us."
veryGood! (9268)
Related
- Nicole Kidman Reveals the Surprising Reason for Starring in NSFW Movie Babygirl
- Why Outer Banks Fans Think Costars Rudy Pankow and Madison Bailey Used Stunt Doubles Amid Rumored Rift
- A herniated disc is painful, debilitating. How to get relief.
- 'Bizarre:' Naked man arrested after found in crawl space of California woman's home
- Why Kathy Bates Decided Against Reconstruction Surgery After Double Mastectomy for Breast Cancer
- Minnesota man is free after 16 years in prison for murder that prosecutors say he didn’t commit
- Horoscopes Today, November 11, 2024
- As the transition unfolds, Trump eyes one of his favorite targets: US intelligence
- The Office's Kate Flannery Defends John Krasinski's Sexiest Man Alive Win
- Missing Ole Miss student declared legally dead as trial for man accused in his death looms
Ranking
- Crews battle 'rapid spread' conditions against Jennings Creek fire in Northeast
- November 2024 full moon this week is a super moon and the beaver moon
- Song Jae-lim, Moon Embracing the Sun Actor, Dead at 39
- 10 Trendy Bags To Bring to All of Your Holiday Plans
- Alexandra Daddario Shares Candid Photo of Her Postpartum Body 6 Days After Giving Birth
- Residents urged to shelter in place after apparent explosion at Louisville business
- Charles Hanover: A Summary of the UK Stock Market in 2023
- 2 more escaped monkeys recaptured and enjoying peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in South Carolina
Recommendation
-
As Northeast wildfires keep igniting, is there a drought-buster in sight?
-
My Chemical Romance will perform 'The Black Parade' in full during 2025 tour: See dates
-
Parts of Southern California under quarantine over oriental fruit fly infestation
-
Why Game of Thrones' Maisie Williams May Be Rejoining the George R.R. Martin Universe
-
Horoscopes Today, November 12, 2024
-
13 Skincare Gifts Under $50 That Are Actually Worth It
-
Voyager 2 is the only craft to visit Uranus. Its findings may have misled us for 40 years.
-
Mariah Carey's Amazon Holiday Merch Is All I Want for Christmas—and It's Selling Out Fast!