By CAROL A. CLARK
Los Alamos Daily Post
caclark@ladailypost.com
Students from Los Alamos and around the world are reported to be safe after an unauthorized man entered the stage area during event activities on Thursday, at the National Speech and Debate Tournament in Des Moines, Iowa.
Los Alamos Public Schools Superintendent Jennifer Guy addressed the incident, saying, “All of our students are safe. I am grateful for the coach, Mr. Poston, and the wonderful chaperones who were with our students. They were able to account for them quickly, make sure parents were notified, and provide support to our students. It was a scary situation for them. I am so thankful everyone is safe, but I am sorry that they were scared and their week was disrupted.”
This week marks the 100th anniversary of the National Speech and Debate Tournament, and Los Alamos students were among more than 10,000 students, teachers, and chaperones from schools across the United States and around the world in attendance.
Shelby Young with the National Speech and Debate Association provided the following statement Thursday: “This afternoon, an unidentified attendee entered the stage during the Humorous Interpretation Finals, interrupting the round. The individual has been subdued and removed from the premises. There were no weapons involved, and no threats were made. The hall was evacuated, and there are no reported injuries. The rest of the venue has been swept for any potential threats…”
The man entering the stage is identified as Jayden Michael Roccaforte, 22, of Cheyenne, Wyo. Authorities said the incident happened just before 3 p.m. Thursday, and officers working the event took Roccaforte into custody.
“No weapons were seen or have been recovered at this time,” police said after the incident. “No injuries have been reported at this time.”
The area was safely cleared, and around 4 p.m., participants were allowed back into the event center.
Jayden Michael Roccaforte
Roccaforte has been charged with disorderly conduct and two counts of possession of a controlled substance and is being held in Jail.
After initially planning to resume the tournament Thursday evening, the National Speech & Debate Association decided to suspend competition for the remainder of the day. The competition continued for its final day on Friday.
