Man With Gun Threatens Suicide at Wikipedia Conference in New York City

A man brandishing a firearm disrupted the opening ceremony of WikiConference North America 2025 in Manhattan today, prompting a swift response from conference organizers and police.

The incident occurred at Civic Hall around 9 a.m. as the conference was getting underway. According to law enforcement sources, the man, who has not been publicly identified, jumped onto the stage and pointed a gun at the ceiling before being tackled by attendees. He was subsequently taken into custody by police. The man was wearing a sign around his neck and draped on his back displaying the colors and message of individuals identifying as “MAPs,” or “minor-attracted persons,” reading “anti-contact non-offending pedophile.”

Authorities are investigating the motive behind the incident. John Hopkins University defines nonoffending pedophiles as individuals “who experience sexual interest in children, but despite common misperceptions, have neither had sexual contact with a child nor have accessed illegal child sexual exploitation material.” This event raises concerns about the potential for individuals with such interests to disrupt public gatherings. Wikipedia stated on its website that all events for today have been canceled, and the conference is expected to resume Saturday with increased security measures and a law enforcement presence.

“The rest of today’s program is cancelled, and there will be additional security as well as law enforcement onsite for the remainder of the event,” Wikipedia said in a statement, adding that all conference participants are safe and thanking those who intervened. The conference, which began yesterday and is scheduled to conclude Sunday, is an annual event “by and for Wikipedia editors, enthusiasts, and volunteers.” You can learn more about the history of WikiConference North America on Wikipedia itself.

Officials have stated the investigation is ongoing.