Furry Convention ‘Further Confusion’ Attendees Rescue Woman From Assault

They say not all heroes wear capes, and in this case it appears that some wear fursuits. The Mercury News is reporting that several attendees of San Jose’s furry convention Further Confusion (aka FurCon) interrupted an assault and held the alleged perpetrator until police could arrive last Friday night.

A group of attendees were outside hanging out when, according to the article, the following occurred:

…suddenly a car screeched to a halt in the middle of South Market Street. And from inside came a woman’s horrified scream — “Get out, get out, get out, get out,” [Steven] Rodriguez recalled.

“It was pretty intense,” said Rodriguez, a self-described “silent observer” of furry culture who traveled from Azusa in Southern California to attend the convention’s after-hours hotel parties. “We saw the passenger just whaling on her. Just a full-on punch.” Rodriguez and his friend yanked open the unlocked passenger’s door and began dragging the man out, he said. The driver had been visibly beaten, and as they grabbed hold of her assaulter, he quickly tried to turn his ire onto Rodriguez.

Five other attendees (still in their fursuits) then joined Rodriquez and his friend, subduing the attacker. The woman driving the car drove off, leaving her alleged attacker behind. Some of this can be seen in a video the Mercury News uploaded to Youtube.

Police arrived a few minutes later, and arrested the attacker who has been identified as 22 year old San Jose resident Demetri Hardnett. Hardnett has been booked at the Santa Clara County jail on suspicion of domestic violence, as the victim is believed to be his girlfriend.

There are times when I start to lose faith in the convention community, but then moments like this come along when I’m reminded that there are some genuinely great people among us. Some of them just happen to be wearing pink dinosaur suits.

Via Mercury News