'We came to riot': Illinois man livestreamed lighting fires, handing out explosives in Minneapolis

[dflprincess]

Last edited Tue Jun 2, 2020, 11:46 AM - Edit history (1)

https://www.startribune.com/we-came-to-riot-illinois-man-livestreamed-lighting-fires-in-minneapolis/570930722/

An Illinois man who came to Minneapolis to riot over the weekend livestreamed himself handing out explosives, destroying property and appearing to set a Sprint store on fire, according to charges filed in the U.S. District Court of Minnesota on Monday afternoon.

Matthew Lee Rupert, 28, faces charges of civil disorder, possession of unregistered explosives and participating in and organizing riots, making him the first to face federal prosecution for allegedly taking part in the fires, looting and other violence that engulfed the Twin Cities since the death of George Floyd in police custody.

Last Thursday night, Rupert, of Galesburg, Ill., posted on his public Facebook page an invitation for "goons" to join him in traveling to Minneapolis, where he said he was renting hotel rooms and planned to wreak havoc and "take hella good videos."

The livestreamed videos, cited as evidence by FBI investigators in the complaint, show his role in the riots on Friday night and early Monday, including distributing explosives and then announcing, "He's throwing my bombs ... they're going to bomb the police with them."

"Good shot, my boy," he shouted after one of the explosions, according to the complaint. "We came here to riot," he declared later.

Later in the night, Rupert asked for lighter fluid and entered a Sprint store, according to the complaint. "I lit it on fire," he said, before entering an Office Depot and stealing items from it.

And while the Strib does not mention his race or have a picture, he's a white guy (and I really think that's an important bit of information, all things considered.)

Illinois media did print his picture at this link:

https://chicago.suntimes.com/crime/2020/6/1/21277363/lets-start-riot-galesburg-man-federal-charge-related-rioting-chicago

[dhill926]

1. well..this is it....

clearly right wing agitators while trump calls out antifa. What the fuck more evidence do people need. This and his 2nd amendment comments...gonna get real ugly....oh, and the virus...

[RockRaven]

2. That was not smart. Like amazingly so.

[Fresh_Start]

5. Thank goodness. hopefully that can also pickup his buddies

and maybe they are equally brilliant.

[procon]

3. Gotta wonder who's the money man behind this idiot.

Who paid for his trip, all the hotel rooms he was bragging about? Is he working for, white supremacists, Russians, GOP agents provocateur, anti govt fascists?

[MarcA]

4. +1,000 n/t

[dflprincess]

7. Excellent point!

[oswaldactedalone]

8. Soros?

[WhiteTara]

11. Erik Prince.

[Leghorn21]

6. Smooth and cunning operative, that young Rupert!!

[oswaldactedalone]

9. Nice Dental Work

Consider changing dentists, idiot.

[geardaddy]

14. He's on the CSA veterans plan.

[WhiteTara]

12. He and F ukerberg have the same haircut!

[jpak]

10. Incel

Yup

[geardaddy]

13. You need to post this in GD!

[dflprincess]

15. Done! nt

[geardaddy]

16. Thanks!