The man exiting the truck is the suspect who fired into the crowd with a “splatter ball gun.” Two other people are holding handguns aimed at the man. (Proctor/Emerald)
Update as of Oct. 23, 5 p.m.: In a previous report, the Emerald stated that there were no injuries from the conflict on Oct. 21. On Oct. 23, the Emerald learned that a woman suffered a broken leg after jumping a construction fence to flee the incident. The victim is currently being treated at a hospital.
The perpetrator, Jonathan James Wisbey, has been detained and charges have been included in the article.
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A man armed with a splatter ball gun fired into a crowd marching in support of Palestinians at the Wayne L. Morse Federal Courthouse in Eugene on Saturday afternoon, Eugene police said.
According to a Eugene Police Department press release, “a couple of protestors armed with handguns drew their weapons” after the man with the splatter ball gun fired.
No injuries were initially reported, though one woman told the Emerald that she broke her leg attempting to flee the incident. About 200 people attended the event.
A splatter ball gun resembles the look of a firearm, but is a toy gun in operation, having the ability to shoot out water.
Eugene police quickly “challenged” and “detained” the armed suspects involved. The man with the splatter ball gun faces pending charges.
The incident occurred when a white pickup truck carrying a Gadsden flag stopped at the intersection of 8th and Pearl, in front of the protestors. As protesters moved around the truck, a protester slashed the vehicle’s tires.
The driver of the truck quickly exited the vehicle, knelt on one knee and fired into the crowd.
After the initial incident, a protester yelled, “keep marching,” and the protesters continued to march.
Before the conflict, protesters waved Palestine flags and signs with various mottos, from “more violence is not the answer,” to “ceasefire now,” to calling for President Biden to stop “funding genocide.”
Speakers read poetry and shared personal stories about their support for Palestinians.
A member of the rally who wished to only be identified by his first name, Ib, said that he was there because as a Palestinian, it was important to him.
“I’m here supporting sanity,” Ib said. “My tax money goes to weaponize the killing of my family, or my relatives or friends.”
A speaker wearing a face mask who did not wish to be identified, spoke in front of the crowd.
“In my family, I’m often referred to as a ‘self-hating Jew.’ As if the actions of a murderous ethnostate define my entire being! Well, I’m proud to say that I’m not,” he said.
An elderly man passed out flyers decrying “zionism.”
“We mean no ‘two-state solution’. We mean total <Palestinian> self-determination,” said another speaker.
About thirty minutes into the rally, a tan-colored van with a “Don’t Tread on Me” flag sticker on the back window pulled beside the rally. A red truck pulled aside on Mill Street began running its engine, drowning out the voice of the speaker.
After the speakers finished, the rally marched from the courthouse through Eugene’s Saturday Market.
Both the UO’s Muslim Student Alliance and Students for Justice in Palestine issued a joint statement on Instagram that they had no role in organizing the rally.
The man with the splatter gun, identified as Jonathan Wisbey, has now been charged with menacing, disorderly conduct in the second degree and bias crime in the first degree.Bias crimes are a felony He was arrested and lodged at Lane County Jail.
