Plea deal reached for man who fired shots inside DC pizzeria
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}FILE - This Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, file photo shows Edgar Maddison Welch, 28 of Salisbury, N.C., as he surrenders to police, 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. At a status hearing on Wednesday, March 15, 2017, in U.S. District Court in Washington, lawyers said they have reached a plea deal in principle for Welch. They said they needed some more time to complete the paperwork, and U.S. District Judge Ketanji B. Jackson scheduled a plea hearing for March 24. (Sathi Soma via AP, File) (The Associated Press)
A man who police said was inspired by false internet rumors to fire an assault weapon inside a Washington pizzeria has reached a plea deal with federal prosecutors.
At a status hearing Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Washington, lawyers said they have reached a plea deal in principle for 28-year-old Edgar Maddison Welch.
Authorities say Welch fired multiple shots, causing panic inside the Comet Ping Pong restaurant Dec. 4, after driving from North Carolina to investigate a conspiracy theory about Democrats harboring child sex slaves.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Terms of the plea were not discussed. Welch's lawyer declined comment after the hearing. The plea hearing will be March 24.
Welch was charged with interstate transportation of a firearm, assault with a dangerous weapon and possessing a firearm during a crime of violence.