Overview
- A dispute inside a guest room at the DoubleTree by Hilton on Stone Street led to bear spray being discharged and the 400‑room hotel being evacuated, police said Monday.
- The FDNY reported eight people with minor injuries—six treated on scene and two, both 39‑year‑old service members, taken to hospital in stable condition—while some outlets cited seven injured as counts are reconciled.
- NYPD detectives are combing through hotel surveillance to locate a woman they believe sprayed the chemicals, and no arrests have been announced as the investigation remains active.
- Bear spray is a capsaicin (red pepper oil) deterrent regulated by the EPA as a pesticide and is labeled not for use on people, and exposure can inflame eyes and the upper respiratory tract, which explains the broad evacuation when the fumes spread into hallways or HVAC.
- Guests and staff were displaced outside with their bags for hours, and officials’ findings could prompt tighter hotel security checks and legal scrutiny over the misuse of pesticide‑labeled sprays.