An Illinois man who traveled from Chicago to Minneapolis is facing federal charges after he live-streamed footage of himself on social media lighting fires, looting and handing out bombs to throw at cops.
Matthew Lee Rupert, 28, was arrested in Chicago Sunday after he shared videos on Facebook Live of him passing out explosives, boasting about torching a Sprint store and looting last week in both Minneapolis and Chicago.
According to the criminal complaint filed in the US District Court of Minnesota Monday, Rupert had traveled to the city where George Floyd was killed to take part in rioting before returning to Chicago where he urged others to join him in creating civil unrest there.
He has been charged with civil disorder, participating in and organizing a riot, and possession of unregistered explosives, making him the first to face federal charges over the rioting that has rocked Minneapolis since Floyd’s death last Monday.
Matthew Lee Rupert, 28, (pictured in his mug) was arrested in Chicago Sunday after he shared videos on Facebook Live of him passing out explosives to other protesters, boasting about torching a Sprint store and looting last week
Rupert wrote on his Facebook page Thursday night calling for ‘goons’ to join him in traveling to Minneapolis and ‘take hella good videos.’
‘I’m going to Minneapolis tomorrow who coming only goons I’m renting hotel rooms,’ he wrote on the account under the name El Ricco Rupert.
He then live-streamed videos of himself on Friday night and early Monday morning dishing out explosives to others and setting fire to a Sprint store, according to the criminal complaint.
In one video Friday night, that appears to be filmed by Rupert, he hands out homemade explosives and boasts that other people are using them to ‘bomb the police’ and proudly says ‘we came here to riot.’
‘There are SWAT trucks up there. They got SWAT trucks up there… I’ve got some bombs if some of you all want to throw them back… bomb them back… here I got some more… light it and throw it,’ he is heard saying on camera, the affidavit states.
He is then seen handing out devices to others.
‘He’s throwing my bombs… they’re going to bomb the police with them,’ he tells his social media followers.
Rupert shared the footage on his Facebook account named El Ricco Rupert
During Rupert’s (pictured in some of the footage) arrest, police found ‘several destructive devices’ similar to those used in the footage shot in Minneapolis, a hammer, a flashlight and cash in his car, according to authorities
Rupert’s footage (above) is now being used as evidence in the charges against him
In one video he is seen looting an Office Depot store while in another he boasts about setting fire to a Sprint store, the criminal complaint states
‘Good shot, my boy,’ he is heard telling one protester after they hurled the bomb at cops, says the complaint.
Later Friday night, the footage then shows Rupert asking for lighter fluid before entering a Sprint store, and then boasting that he torched it, according to the complaint.
‘I lit it on fire,’ he said, before he then moved on to an Office Depot where he catches himself on camera looting some goods.
In another image cited in the affidavit Rupert shares a picture of a blistered hand saying he had tried to pick up a tear gas bomb.
Rupert live-streamed footage of himself (above) on social media lighting fires, looting and handing out bombs for people to throw at police officers
Rupert then allegedly posted multiple videos early Sunday walking through Chicago after he returned and encouraged people to join him for rioting there
The looter then tells his social media followers Saturday night that he was heading back to Chicago to riot there and calling for people to join him in wreaking chaos in the streets of the city, according to the complaint.
‘[Let me know] who’s on board I got cars we got this,’ he wrote.
Rupert then allegedly posted multiple videos early Sunday walking through Chicago wearing an American flag bandanna and a white baseball cap.
In one video, the suspect appears to film himself in front of a store with a smashed window before he points out a cash register inside.
‘There’s gotta be a register in there,’ he is heard saying.
The video then shows someone going through the broken window as the camera follows them inside.
The complaint says Rupert went into a merchant store but found the cash register empty, so he moved on to a convenience store where he put items in his backpack.
He also then allegedly boasts about having boxes of tobacco products in his bag.
Protestors demonstrate outside of a burning fast food restaurant in Minneapolis Friday
Police tear gas a protester Saturday in the city where George Floyd was killed last week
Footage also shows Rupert saying ‘let’s start a riot’ and ‘I’m going to start doing some damage,’ according to the complaint.
Rupert was arrested alongside other rioters at 2:21 a.m. Sunday for violating Chicago’s nighttime curfew.
During his arrest, police found ‘several destructive devices’ similar to those used in the footage shot in Minneapolis, a hammer, a flashlight and cash in his car, according to authorities.
His videos are now being used as evidence in the charges brought against him by the FBI.
Rupert is facing federal charges because he crossed state lines to riot.
A judge ordered for him to be transferred to Minnesota to face future case proceedings.
The charges against the Chicago man come as several US officials have blamed violence in Minnesota and other cities on people traveling from other areas.