Ohio man charged after brandishing gun at New York City Wikipedia conference

A bizarre incident unfolded at a Wikipedia conference in New York City last week, leaving attendees shaken. Connor Weston, 27, from Ohio, stormed onto a stage during the opening ceremony of WikiConference North America 2025 and brandished a gun, threatening to kill himself while wearing a sign that declared him an "anti-contact non-offending pedophile".

The drama unfolded at around 9am in Manhattan's Civic Hall, where Weston jumped on the stage and started waving his gun, making disturbing declarations about taking his own life. Luckily, conference safety team member Richard Knipel sprang into action, rushing the stage and tackling Weston to the ground before he could cause any harm.

According to eyewitnesses, Knipel managed to wrestle the gun away from Weston's hands and put it down, preventing a potentially catastrophic situation. Another conference safety team member, Andrew Lih, helped Knipel by grabbing Weston's arm and prying his fingers off the gun.

Weston was taken into custody after multiple 911 calls were made, with police confirming that there were no injuries reported. However, the incident has left many wondering about the motivations behind Weston's behavior, as he had previously identified himself as an "anti-contact non-offending pedophile" online.

The term, which is often misinterpreted and stigmatized, refers to individuals who experience sexual interest in children but have never engaged in any form of child abuse. According to Johns Hopkins University, these individuals are a unique population that requires special understanding and support.

Despite the disturbing nature of Weston's actions, it's worth noting that the quick thinking and bravery of conference safety team members like Knipel and Lih likely prevented a tragic outcome. The incident has also raised questions about online identity and the need for greater awareness and education around sensitive topics like pedophilia.

I'm still trying to wrap my head around this whole thing... like, what's going on with people these days? I mean, can you imagine being in that situation and having someone jump up on stage with a gun? It's just crazy. And at the same time, I feel bad for Weston - he sounds really messed up, and we should be trying to help him instead of judging him. But then again, I'm not sure how much more context there is to understand what was going through his head... maybe online communities need to be more careful about the language they use?

This guy's mental state is so messed up, needs help ASAP

omg this is so messed up I cant believe some dude would just go mental on a wikipedia conference what's going thru his head?? but at the same time i feel bad for him he sounds so lost and alone, its like they say about pedophiles being a misunderstood group and now its like we're all wondering why he did it and how to prevent these kinds of situations from happening again anyway thats not gonna stop people from talking about it or trying to help those who need it

This is some crazy stuff! Did you know that in 2022, there were over 3 million reported cases of online harassment worldwide? It's a huge problem, especially when it comes to people who identify as having pedophilic interests. But like I said, the term "anti-contact non-offending pedophile" is often misinterpreted and stigmatized...

According to data from the National Center for Victims of Crime, in 2023, there were over 1.7 million reported cases of cyberstalking alone! That's a huge number considering there are over 4.9 billion internet users worldwide! The stats are eye-opening, but also super concerning.

Here's a chart showing the growth of online harassment cases over the years...
Source: Cyber Civil Rights Initiative (2022)
Online Harassment Cases:
2020: 1.6M
2022: 3M+
2024: projected to reach 5M+

The fact that Connor Weston was able to identify himself online with such a sensitive term without any issues is a huge concern... I mean, how do we create more spaces for people to share their struggles without fear of judgment or backlash?

I'm still trying to wrap my head around what happened at that Wikipedia conference . I mean, it's one thing to talk about these issues online, but to actually take it to a public stage is just... wow . And the fact that he had no visible signs of injury, despite carrying a gun on stage, is just crazy . It makes me think we need to do a better job of supporting people who are struggling with these kinds of issues and encouraging them to seek help before things get to this point . The bravery of those safety team members was everything, though - I mean, can you imagine what could have happened if they hadn't intervened?

man, this is so worrying ... I mean, who expects something like this to happen at a Wikipedia conference? It's crazy that someone would take things to this point, especially with all the awareness about mental health issues being talked about these days.

I guess it's also good to remember that there are people out there who do need help and support, but we gotta make sure they get it from trained professionals not just some guy on the internet. And I'm glad those safety team members stepped in when they did - their bravery literally saved lives . It's a bit of a tricky situation, but maybe this can be an opportunity to talk about how we can better support people who struggle with these kinds of issues... even if it's hard to have that conversation

what a wild scenario !! I'm still trying to wrap my head around it... gun on stage, yelling about killing himself... what's going through his mind? and then that safety team steps in, saves the day ... gotta give them props for staying calm under pressure.

and can we talk about this term "anti-contact non-offending pedophile" for a sec? it's super confusing because people online always freak out when they hear it, but it seems like he was genuinely seeking help? I don't know what the solution is, but education and awareness seem like key to avoiding situations like this in the future

I don’t usually comment but... this whole thing is just so messed up . I mean, I've heard of people being passionate online, but this is on a whole different level. I'm not even gonna try to understand what that guy was thinking or how he got to that point, 'cause it's just too much for me to wrap my head around .

But what really gets me is how the media and the public are still going to be talking about this guy's "condition" like it's something to be ashamed of or stigmatized . Newsflash: people who identify as pedophiles need help, support, and understanding, not a collective knee-jerk reaction to fear-mongering .

We need to talk more about how we can create safe spaces for these individuals to get the help they need without shaming them or making things worse . And, like I said, what happened at that conference was just too close for comfort . Thankfully, those safety team members were there to save the day, but it's a sobering reminder of how quickly things can escalate .

We need more empathy and understanding online, not less . Let's try to have some real conversations about these issues instead of just jumping to conclusions or sharing clickbait articles .

I'm so done with people who claim to be something they're not just to get attention... Like, dude, wear whatever label you want online but don't go around waving a gun on stage! It's one thing to say you have these feelings or experiences and another to actually make a scene about it. And what's up with this "anti-contact non-offending pedophile" term? Isn't that just some fancy way of saying they're still attracted to kids?

And let's talk about online identity for a sec... If you're gonna say something, own up to it and don't pretend like you're someone else. And if you're struggling with these issues, there are people who care and want to help. Maybe instead of storming onto stage, you could've used that energy to talk to someone or seek some support?

I'm still trying to wrap my head around this whole thing... I mean, can you imagine being in that situation? It's just so sad that someone would resort to violence over something as complex and stigmatized as pedophilia . And the fact that he was carrying a gun and making threats of self-harm is just heartbreaking. At the same time, I'm so proud of those conference safety team members who risked their lives to intervene - they're total heroes! It's crazy how quickly things escalated, but thankfully no one was hurt. We need more education and awareness about this stuff, for sure. And can we please get some better support systems in place for people struggling with these kinds of issues?

Man, this whole thing is just crazy ... I mean, imagine being in that situation where someone just starts brandishing a gun on stage and threatening to kill themselves... it's like, what even is going on in their head? And the fact that they were wearing some sign with those words... it's just so disturbing . But at the same time, you have to be like, 'what are we doing wrong'? Are we not educating people enough about this stuff? How can someone go online and find themselves feeling like that? And then there's the bravery of those conference safety team members... I mean, they literally saved lives in that moment . It just goes to show how important it is to have support systems and education in place for people who might be struggling with these issues... we need to do better here .

I'm still trying to wrap my head around what happened at that Wikipedia conference . I mean, can you imagine being in his shoes (or rather, online persona) and just having a complete meltdown on stage? It's like, dude, we get it, you're struggling with some heavy stuff, but taking a gun out doesn't solve anything .

And what's really messed up is that he had to resort to this behavior because of something as simple as online identity . I mean, we all know how easily things can be misinterpreted online, and it's not like he was just trolling or trying to get attention (although, let's be real, his sign was pretty eye-catching ).

But seriously, the fact that conference safety team members were able to intervene so quickly and safely is a huge testament to their training and bravery . It's also a reminder of how important it is to have open and honest conversations about sensitive topics like this online and offline .

I'm not gonna lie, though, my heart was racing when I saw the news . But at the end of the day, it's just another example of how we need to be more understanding and empathetic towards each other, even if we don't agree on everything .

man... this guy's story is so complex, you know? like, he's got these intense feelings, but they're not just black and white, right? it's like, he's trying to express himself online, but then in real life, things get out of control. and what's with the gun? i mean, that's a pretty extreme move. but at the same time, you can't blame him for feeling overwhelmed or whatever. we need to have more nuanced conversations about mental health, trauma, and like, how to deal with these hard emotions in a healthy way

and I'm just thinking, what if he wasn't alone? what if there were people out there who understood him, who could relate to his experiences? maybe then things wouldn't be so bleak. but at the same time, we gotta acknowledge that there are still risks involved when you're talking about sensitive topics like this online

anyway, I'm just trying to process all of this and find some meaning in it. I mean, what's the point if we can't even have a safe space for people to express themselves? but at the same time, how do we create those spaces without, like, enabling or whatever? it's such a delicate balance

omg what a crazy situation i cant believe someone would do that at a wikipedia conf in nyc... its just so senseless. but im glad no one got hurt thankfully. idk what was goin on with this guy's head, wearin a sign like that and then brandishin a gun... it just doesnt add up. and omg the fact that hes identified as an anti-contact non-offending pedophile online is wild i mean we need to get better at understandin people who experience these kinda feelings without judgin them harshly. its all about empathy & support, ya know?

omg what was going thru his mind ? i mean, i get that he's struggling but threatening to kill himself on stage is just crazy . and the sign with that weird term... idk man, it's like, don't we need to be more understanding of people who have, like, different struggles? we gotta make sure we're not judging him too harshly, u know?

anyway, i'm just glad those conference safety team members were there and quick on the scene . they literally saved lives that day . it's crazy how fast things could've gone from bad to worse... we need more people like them who are willing to step up and help in a crisis situation .

and can we talk about online identity for a sec? i mean, it's one thing to express yourself on the internet, but another thing entirely when you're putting your life at risk . we gotta be more careful with how we present ourselves online and make sure we're not putting others in danger .

Can you believe this guy actually thought it was a good idea to bring a gun to a Wikipedia conference ? I mean, what's next, bringing a live snake to a kid's birthday party ? But seriously, props to those safety team members who stepped up and prevented a disaster. I guess you could say they really 'gunned' down the situation . And on a related note, have you ever tried explaining the term 'anti-contact non-offending pedophile' to your grandma? I don't think she'd understand it either... maybe just stick with "don't talk about this stuff online"

I'm literally shocked by how chill everyone is being about this whole thing Like, sure, Weston's behavior was super sketchy, but shouldn't we be talking about why people feel the need to make a scene like that in public? And what's with the "anti-contact non-offending pedophile" thing? It sounds so vague and confusing... shouldnt there be more clarity around online terminology?