CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) -- The Gaston County man who was accused of threatening customers in a NoDa pizza shop pleaded guilty to his charges Tuesday, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office of Western North Carolina.

Maurice Hopkins, 32, of Mt. Holly pleaded guilty to a federal civil rights violation for threatening eight individuals with force at Zambies Pizza because of their race, color, religion and national origin. According to filed plea documents and the court hearing, on June 8, 2024, Hopkins was carrying a firearm inside the restaurant when he encountered a group of friends. He asked if they were American and then proceeded to harass the victims calling them terrorists, demanding they speak English, telling them to go back to their country, and making similar derogatory

See Full Page