Pizzagate Conspiracist Welch Killed by Police

Edgar Maddison Welch, known for the 2016 'Pizzagate' incident where he fired a weapon inside a Washington D.C. pizza restaurant due to a debunked conspiracy theory, was fatally shot by police in Kannapolis, North Carolina. Welch was pulled over during a traffic stop because of an outstanding warrant for felony probation violation. When officers attempted to arrest him, Welch allegedly drew a handgun and pointed it at them, prompting officers Caleb Tate and Brooks Jones to open fire. Welch was taken to a hospital and died from his injuries two days later. The 'Pizzagate' conspiracy falsely claimed that a child sex-trafficking ring linked to prominent Democrats was operating from the restaurant's basement. Welch previously served a four-year prison sentence for his actions and was released in 2020.