Coordinates: 41°58′52″N 87°51′34″W / 41.981063°N 87.859313°W / 41.981063; -87.859313

2014 Midwest FurFest gas attack

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2014 Midwest FurFest gas attack
LocationHyatt Regency O’Hare, Rosemont, IL
Coordinates41°58′52″N 87°51′34″W / 41.981063°N 87.859313°W / 41.981063; -87.859313
DateDecember 7, 2014; 9 years ago (2014-12-07)
c. 12:45 a.m. (CST)
TargetAttendees at Midwest FurFest
Attack type
Gas attack
WeaponChlorine bomb
Injured19
PerpetratorUnknown
MotiveUnknown

On December 7, 2014, Midwest FurFest was targeted by a chlorine gas attack, hospitalizing 19 attendees.[1][2] At the time, Midwest FurFest was the second-largest furry convention in the country, with over 5,400 attendees.[3][4] The convention took place at the Hyatt hotel in Rosemont, Illinois from December 5 to December 7.[3]

Timeline

Around 12:45 a.m. on the final night of the convention, the Rosemont Public Safety Department received several reports of a noxious odor on the ninth floor of the hotel.[5] At 1:10 a.m. the hotel was evacuated and guests were sent to the Stephens Convention Center.[6] Hazmat technicians decontaminated the area for two hours and the building was opened back up at 4:21 a.m.[6][1]

Investigation

Firefighters investigating the scene found a broken glass jar filled with white powder on the ninth floor of the emergency stairway, as well as a liquid on the walls. The air in the stairwell and in the hotel's large atrium both registered high levels of chlorine gas. The concentration within the stairwell was measured above 60 ppm, surpassing the meter's maximum range.[4][2] Samples of both the powder and liquid were taken, but due to improperly calibrated equipment the results were inconclusive.[4][7] In the hours after the gas leak, the Rosemont police said the evidence “suggests an intentional act” and began a criminal investigation.[1][8] In the following days, the police and FBI interviewed suspects, hotel guests and employees, and hospital workers, among others.[4] The FBI continued to interview suspects until 2019, when the Illinois statute of limitations ran out.[9] As of 2022, nobody has been charged in this case.[10]

Media Coverage

On December 8th, the MSNBC show Morning Joe was covering the attack. While reporting the news, hosts Mika Brzezinski and Joe Scarborough started laughing, leaving Willie Geist to finish reading the segment. The broadcast cut to an interview with Dr. Samuel Conway, and when the hosts returned, Mika Brzezinski was running out of the studio.[11] Many furries were offended by this dismissive coverage of the event.[7]

In 2024, reporter Nicky Woolf released Fur and Loathing, an investigative podcast series about the event.[12][13] The podcast interviewed two of the FBI's prime suspects in the case, including Robert Sojkowski (AKA Magnus Diridian)[1], a well known controversial figure within the fandom.[10][14][15] Fur and Loathing was featured in Time's "Best Podcasts of 2024 So Far" article.[16]

References

  1. ^ a b c Chachkevitch, Alexandra; Ziezulewicz, Geoff (December 7, 2014). "'Furry' convention disrupted as 'intentional' gas incident sends 19 to hospitals". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on January 1, 2015. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  2. ^ a b "At Hyatt-Regency, Rosemont: Glass Jar with White Substance, Strong Chlorine Smell Causes Firefighter, EMS Hazmat Response, Evacuation". Arlington Cardinal. December 7, 2014. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Midwest FurFest 2014 Information". FurryCons.com. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d Swann, Jennifer (February 10, 2016). "CSI Fur Fest: The Unsolved Case of the Gas Attack at a Furry Convention". Vice. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  5. ^ "19 Hospitalized After Chemical Leak Interrupts FurFest". WMAQ-TV. Associated Press. December 7, 2014. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  6. ^ a b Midwest FurFest (December 7, 2014). "Statement on Sunday Morning's Evacuation" (Press release). Archived from the original on December 7, 2014. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  7. ^ a b Woolf, Nicky (May 6, 2024). "Episode 1: Broken Glass". Fur and Loathing (Podcast). Brazen. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  8. ^ Lambert, Fred (December 7, 2014). "Chlorine gas incident at 'Furry' convention hospitalizes 19". UPI. Rosemont, IL. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  9. ^ Woolf, Nicky (May 27, 2024). "Episode 4: The Furry With The Gas". Fur and Loathing (Podcast). Brazen. Event occurs at 11:56. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  10. ^ a b "DEBUNKING: The Asheville bomb arrest, Confederate Fursuiter, and Midwest Furfest attack". Dogpatch Press. July 11, 2022. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  11. ^ Roy, Jessica (December 8, 2014). "Morning Joe Hosts Totally Lose It During Segment on Furries". Intelligencer. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  12. ^ Sturges, Fiona (May 12, 2024). "Fur & Loathing podcast probes the mysterious poisoning of people in animal costumes — review". Financial Times. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  13. ^ Marriott, James (May 7, 2024). "Fur and Loathing review — this dive into the attack on furries has me hooked". The Times. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  14. ^ Woolf, Nicky (June 10, 2024). "Episode 5: Magnus". Fur and Loathing (Podcast). Brazen. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  15. ^ Woolf, Nicky (June 17, 2024). "Episode 6: Chimera". Fur and Loathing (Podcast). Brazen. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  16. ^ Dockterman, Eliana (May 31, 2024). "The Best Podcasts of 2024 So Far". TIME. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
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