Man arrested after he drives to Washington to ‘self-investigate’ fake Hillary Clinton news story with a gun
- 7 years ago
WASHINGTON — Conspiracy theories seem harmless until one dude decides to take matters into his own hands and show up with a weapon — which is exactly what this North Carolina man did.
Edgar Maddison Welch targeted DC pizzeria Comet Ping Pong, the restaurant at the center of “Pizzagate,” one of the internet’s most prevalent fake news stories.
According to the theory, leaked emails from Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta point to a child prostitution ring operating under the pizza joint, which is run by none other than HRC herself.
Welch read the story online and was convinced the story was real. So convinced, that he decided to arm himself with an AR-15 assault rifle and a pistol and trek all the way to the capital to, as he told police, “self-investigate the rumors” and rescue the poor child sex slaves, the Washington Post reports.
Around 3 p.m. on Sunday, Welch barged into Comet Ping Pong, where he told people to get out and pointed his gun at an employee.
The 28-year-old then spent 45 minutes searching the restaurant for the secret room, tunnel or doorway that supposedly led to the underground trafficking operation. He fired at least one shot in the restaurant, reportedly to force open a locked door.
After finding no evidence of Pizzagate, Welch walked out and surrendered to police.
He is now facing three felony charges for and a misdemeanor gun possession charge.
Edgar Maddison Welch targeted DC pizzeria Comet Ping Pong, the restaurant at the center of “Pizzagate,” one of the internet’s most prevalent fake news stories.
According to the theory, leaked emails from Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta point to a child prostitution ring operating under the pizza joint, which is run by none other than HRC herself.
Welch read the story online and was convinced the story was real. So convinced, that he decided to arm himself with an AR-15 assault rifle and a pistol and trek all the way to the capital to, as he told police, “self-investigate the rumors” and rescue the poor child sex slaves, the Washington Post reports.
Around 3 p.m. on Sunday, Welch barged into Comet Ping Pong, where he told people to get out and pointed his gun at an employee.
The 28-year-old then spent 45 minutes searching the restaurant for the secret room, tunnel or doorway that supposedly led to the underground trafficking operation. He fired at least one shot in the restaurant, reportedly to force open a locked door.
After finding no evidence of Pizzagate, Welch walked out and surrendered to police.
He is now facing three felony charges for and a misdemeanor gun possession charge.