Edgar Maddison Welch, notorious for his involvement in the 2016 "Pizzagate" incident, was fatally shot by police during a traffic stop in Kannapolis, North Carolina, on January 4. This shooting comes nearly nine years after he stormed into Comet Ping Pong, a Washington D.C. pizzeria, armed with firearms based on unfounded conspiracy theories that falsely implicated prominent Democrats in a child trafficking ring [The Guardian].

During the traffic stop, Kannapolis police officers recognized Welch's vehicle due to an outstanding warrant related to a felony probation violation. When the officers approached the vehicle, Welch pulled out a handgun and pointed it at them, prompting two officers to fire back after he refused multiple commands to drop his weapon [AP News].

Welch was pronounced dead two days later at a hospital. None of the officers or other passengers were injured during the incident [ABC News].

In December 2016, Welch traveled from North Carolina to Washington D.C. with an assault rifle, motivated by the debunked "Pizzagate" conspiracy. He fired a weapon inside Comet Ping Pong, causing panic among patrons. Fortunately, no injuries occurred, and Welch later surrendered [The New York Times].

After pleading guilty to charges including interstate transportation of a firearm, he was sentenced to four years in prison and released in 2020 [The Hill].

The shooting incident involving Welch is now under investigation by the North Carolina Bureau of Investigation, with the officers involved placed on administrative leave as per standard protocol [India Times]. The Kannapolis police request that an outside agency conduct the investigation to ensure transparency and impartiality [HuffPost].

In light of these events, the community reflects on the lasting impact of conspiracy theories, such as "Pizzagate," that incited violence and misinformation, demonstrating the dangers associated with unfounded claims prevalent during the 2016 presidential election cycle [USA Today].