Chicago City Wire

Galesburg resident Matthew Rupert has been sentenced to 105 months in federal prison after video footage repeatedly captured him at the heart of riot scenes that played out in Chicago and Minnesota following the police killing of George Floyd.

Appearing in the Minnesota courtroom of U.S. District Judge Nancy Brasel, Rupert ultimately pleaded guilty to a single count of arson after one video captured him boasting his actions were the “best thing I ever did.”

Rupert can also be seen encouraging others to join him in his crime spree, with the formal charge against him stemming from the torching of a Sprint store where he live-streamed the destruction.

“The video also depicts Rupert asking for lighter fluid before entering a boarded-up Sprint store located on Nicollet Avenue in Minneapolis,” U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a statement. “Rupert canvassed the store and eventually entered a backroom while telling others that he had located a store safe. Rupert and others then knocked several boxes into a pile on the ground. Rupert doused the pile of boxes with lighter fluid and then directed another individual—at the time a juvenile—to light the pile on fire. The store sustained significant damage as a result of the fire.”

Still more video posted on Facebook displays Rupert “handing out artillery-shell fireworks, encouraging violence against law enforcement officers, actively damaging property, breaking into buildings and looting businesses.”

Through it all, Rupert reveled in the destruction.

“What’s up mom?” he says while answering a phone call in one video. “We’re out here wreckin’ ‘em. I’m throwing my fireworks back.”

Rupert soon returned to Chicago, where his destructive ways continued. At one point, he can be seen in another video posted to Facebook leading a crowd near Van Buren and Dearborn, where he sported an American flag bandana and a white baseball cap while shouting “let’s start a riot”

Rupert was finally taken into custody by CPD on May 31 along with his 29-year-old brother. At the time of their apprehension, police reported finding homemade bombs in the car they were traveling in. 

The Sun-Times reported a Facebook account linked to him that posted “I’m going to Minneapolis tomorrow who coming only goons I’m renting hotel rooms.”