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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Federal charges for man who fired in pizzeria

Associated Press

WASHINGTON – A North Carolina man who fired an assault rifle multiple times inside a pizza restaurant in the nation’s capital while investigating the internet conspiracy theory known as “pizzagate” will face federal charges.

Edgar Maddison Welch, of Salisbury, North Carolina, appeared briefly in Superior Court in the District of Columbia on Tuesday.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Sonali Patel told a judge that prosecutors are dismissing the local charges because they have obtained a federal arrest warrant. Patel didn’t detail the federal charges. It’s not clear when Welch will appear in federal court.

The 28-year-old Welch has been in jail since the Dec. 4 shooting at Comet Ping Pong, which has been falsely rumored to be the site of a child sex trafficking ring run by prominent Democrats.

Welch’s parents were in court, but declined to speak to a reporter.