Gunman Targeted Pizza Shop Over Fake 'PizzaGate' Scandal: Police

WASHINGTON, DC — A man armed with a gun walked into Comet Ping Pong — the subject of a bizarre conspiracy theory by Donald Trump supporters — fired at least one shot and was arrested on Sunday. Police said he admitted he was there to investigate "PizzaGate."

Comet Ping Pong has become the subject of a large amount of harassment from Trump supporters who believe in a false conspiracy theory, called "PizzaGate," which says that staffers of Hillary Clinton have been using the pizza joint for an underground child-trafficking ring. The movement has produced absolutely no evidence of such an allegation, relying on conjecture and wild conspiracy theories, and the owner and employees have endured constant harassment and threats since the rumors emerged.

Police say it all started just before 3 p.m. when they received a call for a man with a firearm in the 5000 block of Connecticut Avenue NW.

"The suspect entered the location and pointed a firearm in the direction of the victim who is an employee of the restaurant," according to a report from the Metropolitan Police Department. "The victim was able to flee and notify police. The suspect proceeded to discharge the rifle inside of the establishment."

Police arrested 28-year-old Edgar Maddison Welch of Salisbury, North Carolina, without incident and recovered a second firearm in the man's vehicle, the report states. He faces a charge of assault with a dangerous weapon.

"During a post-arrest interview this evening, the suspect revealed that he came to the establishment to self-investigate 'PizzaGate' (a fictitious online conspiracy theory)," the report states.

Police confirmed the man was armed with an assault rifle and was taken into custody without incident. Connecticut Avenue NW between Fessenden and Nebraska streets was closed in both directions during the investigation.

Video of police ordering the man on his knees is below:

#Breaking : Major police presence near #comet pizza in #Northwest DC near the corner of Connecticut and Nebraska. Man arrested. pic.twitter.com/RrqaBt2kKR
— jeffgep (@jeffgep) December 4, 2016

.@MayorBowser & @DCPoliceDept Chief Newsham providing media update on incident at Comet restaurant; suspect in custody; motive unclear. pic.twitter.com/2JrIyQg80I
— Deputy Mayor Donahue (@SafeDC) December 4, 2016

Images via D Sharon Pruitt and Hillary Clinton's official Twitter account