Gunman from 2016 'Pizzagate' Scare Shot and Killed by Police

The man who opened fire in a Washington, D.C., restaurant in 2016 under the mistaken belief it was involved in child trafficking has been fatally shot by police.

Edgar Maddison Welch, sentenced to four years in prison in 2017 for his role in the incident known as “Pizzagate,” died after being shot by police on Jan. 4. He passed away two days later at the age of 36, according to The New York Times.

The shooting occurred in Kannapolis, North Carolina, and Police Chief Terry L. Spry detailed the incident in a Facebook post.

“At approximately 10:00 pm on January 4, 2025, a Kannapolis Police Officer was patrolling North Cannon Boulevard and observed a gray 2001 GMC Yukon. The officer recognized the vehicle as one normally driven by an individual who he had previously arrested, and knew had an outstanding warrant for arrest,” the post explained.

The officer initiated a traffic stop and, upon interacting with the driver, identified the front seat passenger as the individual with the outstanding warrant, according to the post.

As additional officers arrived on the scene, the officer who stopped the vehicle approached the passenger side and opened the door to detain Welch.

“When he opened the door, the front seat passenger pulled a handgun from his jacket and pointed it in the direction of the officer,” the post stated.

Commands were given for Welch to drop the weapon, but he did not comply. “After the passenger failed to comply with their repeated requests, both officers fired their duty weapon at the passenger, striking him,” the post said.

Welch was transported to a hospital immediately but succumbed to his injuries two days later. No officers were injured during the confrontation.

The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation is reviewing the incident, and the officers involved have been placed on administrative leave, the post noted. Welch had been wanted for a felony probation violation.

Welch gained national attention in 2016 after responding to baseless social media claims that the Comet Ping Pong restaurant in Washington, D.C., was the site of a child sex trafficking ring. Armed with an AR-15, Welch entered the establishment and fired a shot. No one was injured, and Welch surrendered to police.

As reported by CBS, the “Pizzagate” conspiracy theory was later thoroughly debunked, but it showcased the dangerous consequences of disinformation spread online.