A Wikipedia conference in Manhattan was interrupted when a man with a gun caused a disturbance on stage. The incident happened during the opening ceremony of the WikiConference North America at Civic Hall on East 14th Street. The 27-year-old man appeared to threaten himself without posing a threat to others in the room, according to Gothamist.
The police identified the man’s name as Connor Weston from Ohio, and he told the crowd, "I’m a non-contact pedophile. I want to kill myself." Weston was wearing a banner and a sign that conveyed his "ANTI-CONTACT NON-OFFENDING PEDOPHILE" stance, he had registered to attend the conference, which this year coincided with New York City's 400th anniversary celebration, as per the New York Post. Officers responded to the scene, apprehending Weston without firing any shots, and a firearm was secured at the spot.
A response unfolded as WikiConference staff confronted and subdued the armed man. "It was just adrenaline," one staffer involved in the altercation remarked to the New York Post. "Since you’re on the trust and safety team you’re expected to do this . . . we’re not used to loaded weapons in the same room . . . we’re used to more prank behavior."
Tensions grew in the building during the incident. A woman in a different class on the fifth floor told the New York Post about the fear and confusion during the alarm. She said, “They told us to go back into our classroom and lock the door,” but since the doors were half glass, she and others took cover near a solid wall. Another woman was so scared she lay down on the floor, and during the chaos, one woman sent text messages to her family for comfort. With the gunman in custody, participants were told they were safe. A foundation representative said, “We appreciate the conference organizers and attendees who stepped in to help during the opening ceremony.”
Following the incident, both law enforcement and event organizers have confirmed that safety measures will continue for the rest of the event. This was stated in a message from a Wikimedia Foundation spokesperson obtained by The New York Post "Participants at WikiConference North America are safe, and are continuing to gather together in community." Meanwhile, Weston remains in custody at the NYPD’s 9th Precinct as he awaits charges. There has also been discussion about an online post he made in June on an undisclosed platform, where he stated that he understands the harmful nature of adult/minor relationships and is committed to non-harmful behavior.
