Edgar Maddison Welch, widely known for his involvement in the 2016
“Pizzagate” conspiracy, was fatally shot by police during a traffic stop in Kannapolis, North Carolina. Authorities confirmed that Welch, who had an active felony probation violation warrant, resisted arrest.When officers attempted to detain him, Welch drew a handgun and refused repeated commands to disarm. In response, the officers opened fire. Welch was critically injured and later passed away at a hospital.In 2016, Welch gained national attention when he stormed into a Washington, D.C. pizzeria, Comet Ping Pong, armed with an assault rifle. He was motivated by the baseless “Pizzagate” conspiracy theory, which falsely alleged that prominent tDemocrats were running a child sex-trafficking ring out of the establishment. Welch fired shots inside but surrendered without causing injuries. He was sentenced to four years in prison for assault and firearms charges and was released in 2020.The recent incident is now under investigation by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. The officers involved have been placed on administrative leave pending the results of the inquiry.