CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) - A man pleaded guilty on Tuesday to bringing a loaded AR-15 into a Charlotte pizza shop while threatening to kill eight people over their race last year .

Records showed 32-year-old Maurice Hopkins pleaded guilty to one count of interference with federally protected activities on Tuesday, Aug. 19. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

What happened

The hate crime reportedly happened on Saturday, June 8, 2024, at Zämbies Pizza along North Davidson Street in NoDa.

According to the filed plea documents, Hopkins asked if a group of friends getting pizza were Americans, harassed them, and called them terrorists.

Reports continued, stating Hopkins demanded they speak English, told them to go back to their country, and made other statements,

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