Washington, D.C. — Edgar Maddison Welch, the man infamous for discharging a firearm inside a DC pizza shop in 2016 amid unfounded conspiracy allegations, was shot and killed last Saturday by police in North Carolina during a routine traffic stop.
The incident occurred when officers pulled over a vehicle in which Welch was a passenger. Recognizing the car as belonging to Welch and aware of his outstanding felony probation warrant, law enforcement attempted to apprehend him. According to police reports, Welch drew a handgun and pointed it at an officer, which resulted in police firing shots. Welch succumbed to his injuries days later. No other injuries were reported in the confrontation.
This event marks a violent end to the notorious figure at the center of the “Pizzagate” saga, where in December 2016, Welch stormed into Comet Ping Pong, a pizza restaurant in Washington D.C., with an assault rifle. He was reportedly acting on baseless online rumors that linked the restaurant to a fictitious child trafficking ring supposedly led by high-profile Democrats.
Welch, who had driven six hours from his home in North Carolina to investigate the allegations, fired shots inside the establishment, targeting a locked storage closet but causing no physical injuries to any individuals. Upon realizing that there were no victims or evidence of any illegal activity, Welch surrendered to the police.
In 2017, he pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon and a gun-related charge and was sentenced to four years in prison. The case was presided over by then-judge, now Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.
The recent shooting involving Welch is under thorough investigation. The officers involved have been placed on administrative leave in accordance with standard protocol following such incidents.
The 2016 Pizzagate incident highlighted the potent real-world consequences of online misinformation and conspiracy theories. Despite clear evidence debunking the Pizzagate claims, it remains a reference point in discussions about the influence of viral falsehoods.
This tragic conclusion of Welch’s confrontations with law enforcement revives critical conversations about the intersections of mental health, the legality of actions spurred by misinformation, and the protocols law enforcement officials follow when engaging armed individuals.
The authorities have not yet released detailed findings from the ongoing investigation of the shooting, but community and national interest in the case remains high, reflecting ongoing concerns about justice, safety, and the impact of harmful conspiracies in causing real-world violence.