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Gunman storms stage at Wikipedia conference in Manhattan, no injuries reported
By
Charles Lane
Published Oct 17, 2025
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By
Charles Lane
Published Oct 17, 2025
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A 27-year-old man was taken into custody after storming the stage with a gun at a Manhattan Wikipedia conference in an apparent suicide attempt Friday morning, police and organizers said.
The incident occurred just before 10:30 a.m. at Civic Hall on East 14th Street during the opening ceremony on the second day of WikiConference North America, according to the NYPD and conference organizers.
An NYPD spokesperson said officers responded to multiple 911 calls reporting a man with a gun. When police arrived, they found the man pointing a firearm at the ceiling.
He did not threaten anyone else but may have been threatening to harm himself, authorities said. Officers took him into custody without firing any shots, and a gun was recovered at the scene. No injuries were reported.
The man was taken to a hospital for evaluation. Police have not yet identified him or announced charges.
A spokesperson for the Wikimedia Foundation said a conference attendee entered the WikiConference North America event with a gun and approached the stage, announcing an apparent suicide attempt.
The Wikimedia spokesperson said that organizers and attendees stepped in during the incident.
The rest of Friday's programming was cancelled, and additional security and law enforcement will remain onsite for the remainder of the four-day event, officials said.
According to the event's website, organizers expected around 300 attendees for workshops, presentations and networking opportunities.
Tagged
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nypd
public safety
Charles Lane
Charles is a Day-of reporter focused on breaking news and enterprise. He’s very friendly and can be reached at [email protected], or more securely on whatsapp/signal 631-295-6715
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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