‘Pizzagate’ Gunman Pleads Guilty To Two Charges, Third Charge To Be Dropped

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 ... 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) MORE LESS

WASHINGTON (AP) — A man who police said was inspired by false internet rumors to fire an assault weapon inside a Washington pizzeria has pleaded guilty to two charges.

During a hearing Friday in U.S. District Court in Washington, Edgar Maddison Welch pleaded guilty to interstate transportation of a firearm and assault with a dangerous weapon. Prosecutors will drop a third charge, possessing a firearm during a crime of violence.

Authorities say Welch fired multiple shots inside the Comet Ping Pong restaurant Dec. 4, after driving from North Carolina to investigate a conspiracy theory about Democrats harboring child sex slaves. No one was injured.

The sentencing guidelines are 18 to 24 months for interstate transportation and 18 to 60 months for the assault charge. Sentencing was set for June 22.

Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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  1. OK. Can one sue the disinformers?

  2. Slap on the wrist !

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