Edgar Maddison Welch, 28 of Salisbury, N.C., surrenders to police Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Washington. Welch, who said he was investigating a conspiracy theory about Hillary Clinton running a child sex ring out of a pizza place, fired an assault rifle inside the restaurant on Sunday injuring no one, police and news reports said. (Sathi Soma via AP)
Police say a man investigating a fake news story about Hillary Clinton running a child sex ring out of a Washington, D.C. pizzeria had an AR-15 rifle and a handgun when he was arrested after firing inside the restaurant.
Police said in a statement that 28-year-old Edgar Maddison Welch of Salisbury, North Carolina, was arrested Sunday at Comet Ping Pong. No one was injured.
Police spokeswoman Karimah Bilal says rounds were fired, possibly striking the walls, door and a computer.
Police say Welch told police he’d come to the restaurant to investigate reports that spread online during Clinton’s unsuccessful run for the White House. Police have called those reports a “fictitious online conspiracy theory.” That as Michael Flynn, the retired general tapped to head up the National Security Agency by President-elect Trump has also shared those face stories.
WATCH: Fake News Prompts Shooting Inside DC Pizzeria – Edgar Maddison Welch, 28, of Salisbury, North Carolina, … https://t.co/puNL4XDpZO
— Los Angeles News (@NewsDailyLA) December 5, 2016
Meantime, an incident report from Saturday’s intrusion lists a Colt AR-15 rifle, a Colt .38 handgun, a shotgun and a folding knife among the items seized. Welch is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, other weapons offenses and destruction of property.
The owner of Comet Ping Pong told reporters:
Comet Ping Pong's owner condemned those working to spread the accusations. https://t.co/vw9yEWbbmg pic.twitter.com/DZykT9XrtJ
— NPR (@NPR) December 5, 2016
Source: AP
