Kannapolis, North Carolina – A man infamous for his involvement in the “Pizzagate” conspiracy theory was fatally shot by police officers during a traffic stop on January 9. Edgar Maddison Welch, who gained notoriety in 2016 for his actions related to the conspiracy, pulled a gun on two Kannapolis police officers as they attempted to arrest him for an outstanding warrant.
The incident occurred when a Kannapolis police officer identified Welch in a gray 2001 GMC Yukon associated with a previously arrested individual. As the officer approached Welch’s vehicle, two additional officers arrived to assist. When the officer opened the front passenger door to arrest Welch, he pulled out a handgun, prompting the officers to instruct him to drop the weapon. After Welch failed to comply, the officers fired shots, striking him.
Welch was subsequently transported to a local hospital for treatment but succumbed to his injuries a few days later. Fortunately, the officers involved in the incident, as well as the driver and backseat passenger of the Yukon, were unharmed. The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation is conducting an inquiry into the shooting.
Welch’s notoriety stems from his actions in 2016 when he drove to a pizza parlor in Washington, D.C., with an AR-15-style rifle and a revolver. After entering the establishment and firing shots into a locked room, Welch eventually left the premises unarmed. He later pleaded guilty to related charges and served a four-year prison sentence, being released in 2020.
Despite expressing regret for his past actions, Welch never fully renounced the conspiracy theories that inspired him. His post-trial supervision was set to conclude in 2023. The tragic end to Welch’s life serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of individuals believing and acting upon baseless conspiracy theories.