‘Pizzagate’ Gunman Killed by North Carolina Police During Traffic Stop

Edgar Maddison Welch, known for storming a D.C. pizzeria in 2016 over a debunked conspiracy theory, was fatally shot after pulling a gun on officers during an arrest attempt.

Edgar Maddison Welch, infamous for the 2016 'Pizzagate' incident, was fatally shot by police in Kannapolis, North Carolina, on January 4, 2025, during a traffic stop.
Police attempted to arrest Welch due to an outstanding felony probation violation warrant when he reportedly pulled a handgun on officers and refused to comply with commands to drop it.
Welch was transported to a hospital after being shot by two officers and succumbed to his injuries two days later on January 6, 2025.
Welch gained notoriety in 2016 when he entered Comet Ping Pong in Washington, D.C., armed with multiple firearms, acting on a baseless conspiracy theory alleging a child sex-trafficking ring linked to prominent Democrats.
The fatal shooting is under investigation by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, and the officers involved have been placed on administrative leave as per standard protocol.