Man inspired by false ‘pizzagate’ rumor on Internet pleads guilty to shooting at D.C. restaurant
8 years ago

Man inspired by false ‘pizzagate’ rumor on Internet pleads guilty to shooting at D.C. restaurant

LA Times  

A man who police said was inspired by false Internet rumors dubbed “pizzagate” to fire an assault weapon inside a Washington pizzeria pleaded guilty Friday to two charges. Edgar Maddison Welch of Salisbury, N.C., said during a hearing in U.S. District Court in Washington that he had agreed to plead guilty to interstate transportation of a firearm and assault with a dangerous weapon. Authorities say the 28-year-old Welch fired shots from an AR-15 assault rifle inside the Comet Ping Pong restaurant Dec. 4, after driving from North Carolina to investigate a bogus conspiracy theory about Democrats harboring child sex slaves there. Lawyers said in court that under sentencing guidelines Welch probably faces 1½ to two years in prison as a result of the interstate transportation charge and 1½ to five years for the assault charge.

Welch  shots  internet  pizzagate  guilty  assault  shooting  welch  washington  sentences  say  inspired  pleads  false  restaurant  man  rumor  charge  transportation

History of this topic

‘Pizzagate’ gunman fatally shot by police during traffic stop
2 months, 2 weeks ago

‘Pizzagate’ gunman fatally shot by police during traffic stop

The Independent  

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A man who became …

‘Pizzagate’ gunman killed by police in North Carolina after traffic stop, authorities say
2 months, 2 weeks ago

‘Pizzagate’ gunman killed by police in North Carolina after traffic stop, authorities say

Associated Press  

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. — A man who fired a gun inside a restaurant in the nation’s capital after a fake online conspiracy theory called “Pizzagate” motivated him to do so nearly a decade ago was shot and killed by North Carolina police during a weekend traffic stop. Edgar Maddison Welch was a passenger in a vehicle stopped by officers in Kannapolis …

'Pizzagate' gunman killed by police in North Carolina after traffic stop, authorities say
2 months, 2 weeks ago

'Pizzagate' gunman killed by police in North Carolina after traffic stop, authorities say

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A man who fired a …

‘Pizzagate’ gunman killed by police in North Carolina after traffic stop, authorities say
2 months, 2 weeks ago

‘Pizzagate’ gunman killed by police in North Carolina after traffic stop, authorities say

CNN  

AP — A man who fired a gun inside a restaurant in the nation’s capital after a fake online conspiracy theory called “Pizzagate” motivated him to do so nearly a decade ago was shot and killed by North Carolina police during a weekend traffic stop. Edgar Maddison Welch was a passenger in a vehicle stopped by officers in Kannapolis on …

‘Pizzagate’ gunman in DC sentenced to 4 years in prison
7 years, 9 months ago

‘Pizzagate’ gunman in DC sentenced to 4 years in prison

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — An online conspiracy theory dubbed “pizzagate” ended Thursday with real-world consequences when a North Carolina man was sentenced to prison for arming himself with an assault rifle, traveling to the nation’s capital and firing his weapon inside a neighborhood pizza restaurant. Edgar Maddison Welch’s “ill-conceived plot” last year did “actual damage to the lives of real people,” a …

'Pizzagate' Conspiracy Theorist Who Shot Up D.C. Restaurant Sentenced To 4 Years
7 years, 9 months ago

'Pizzagate' Conspiracy Theorist Who Shot Up D.C. Restaurant Sentenced To 4 Years

Huff Post  

Patel argued that Welch had “forever changed” the lives of the victims, several of whom spoke in court and submitted letters to the judge. “I’m almost sorry you were duped,” one unnamed 32-year-old Comet Ping Pong employee told Welch. He noted that many so-called “Pizzagate” conspiracy theorists now believed Welch was a hired actor. “That’s how the game is played,” …

‘Pizzagate’ gunman says in video he’s standing up for kids
7 years, 9 months ago

‘Pizzagate’ gunman says in video he’s standing up for kids

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — A man who walked into a Washington pizzeria with an assault rifle to investigate internet rumors dubbed “pizzagate” recorded a message on his drive from North Carolina telling his daughters the world is corrupt and he’s standing up for children like them. In the 2 ½ minute recording, Welch speaks to a dashboard-mounted camera as he drives with …

Man pleads guilty in Washington pizzeria shooting over fake 'Pizzagate' news
8 years ago

Man pleads guilty in Washington pizzeria shooting over fake 'Pizzagate' news

Raw Story  

A North Carolina man pleaded guilty on Friday to opening fire in a Washington pizzeria that fake news reports claimed housed a child sex ring linked to 2016 Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. Welch pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to a federal charge of interstate transportation of a firearm with intent to commit an offense and a local charge …

'Pizzagate' Gunman Pleads Guilty To Charges
8 years ago

'Pizzagate' Gunman Pleads Guilty To Charges

NPR  

'Pizzagate' Gunman Pleads Guilty To Charges Enlarge this image toggle caption Jose Luis Magana/AP Jose Luis Magana/AP A North Carolina man pleaded guilty Friday to charges from an armed encounter within a Washington, D.C., pizzeria that was the focus of pernicious and baseless Internet rumors. The statement goes on to read: "According to the government's evidence, on Sunday, December 4, …

"Pizzagate" gunman faces federal charge after firing assault weapon in D.C. restaurant
8 years, 3 months ago

"Pizzagate" gunman faces federal charge after firing assault weapon in D.C. restaurant

Salon  

WASHINGTON — The Latest on a man who fired an assault weapon in a pizza restaurant while investigating an internet conspiracy theory : 11:30 a.m. A North Carolina man who acted on an internet conspiracy theory by firing an assault weapon multiple times inside a pizza restaurant in the nation's capital now faces a federal gun charge, prosecutors announced Tuesday. …

'Pizzagate' Suspect Planned 'Possibly' Violent Raid, Investigators Say
8 years, 3 months ago

'Pizzagate' Suspect Planned 'Possibly' Violent Raid, Investigators Say

NPR  

'Pizzagate' Suspect Planned 'Possibly' Violent Raid, Investigators Say Enlarge this image toggle caption Jose Luis Magana/AP Jose Luis Magana/AP Updated 8:30 p.m. ET The man allegedly motivated by an Internet rumor to fire a rifle inside a Washington, D.C., restaurant, was planning a "possibly" violent raid, according to court documents released Tuesday. A federal complaint filed against Welch quotes text …

Pizzagate: Man opens fire in Washington restaurant
8 years, 3 months ago

Pizzagate: Man opens fire in Washington restaurant

Al Jazeera  

A man who said he was investigating a conspiracy theory about Hillary Clinton running a child sex ring out of a pizza place has fired an assault rifle inside a Washington, DC, restaurant injuring no one, police and news reports said. Edgar Maddison Welch, 28, of Salisbury, North Carolina, walked into Comet Ping Pong and pointed a firearm in the …

Discover Related