An NYPD spokesperson said an individual released bear-deterrent spray inside Washington Square Park late Sunday during festivities that followed New York City’s annual Pride March, triggering panic that was amplified by mistaken reports of gunfire. Officers quickly detained the suspect and recovered the canister, the department added. Several partygoers and police officers experienced eye and respiratory irritation from the chemical; initial assessments indicated no gunshot injuries. Emergency medical teams treated people on site as crowds fled the 10-acre park, one of Manhattan’s busiest gathering spots. Authorities did not immediately disclose a motive for the release of the spray. Police reopened the surrounding streets after clearing the park and urged the public to rely on official updates. The incident came hours after the Pride parade concluded, capping a weekend of city-wide celebrations that drew tens of thousands of participants.