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

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, is charged with 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."

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