In the end, this guy did more damage to himself than those he saw as the enemy, and they should have been alone in the first place! And he died on the anniversary of when fellow right wing nutjob Ashli Babbitt earth this world!

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Edgar Madison Welch, the man who infamously stormed a Washington, D.C. pizzeria in 2016 due to a debunked conspiracy theory, was shot and killed by police near Charlotte, North Carolina, on January 6, 2025.

Welch, 36, was killed during a traffic stop when officers attempted to arrest him on an outstanding warrant for violating probation. According to Kannapolis Police Chief Terry L. Spry, an officer recognized Welch as a passenger in a vehicle and attempted to detain him. Welch reportedly pulled a handgun from his jacket and pointed it at the officer, refusing repeated orders to drop the weapon. Both officers on the scene fired their duty weapons, striking Welch.

Welch’s arrest warrant stemmed from his probation violation following his 2017 conviction. He was sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to weapons charges related to his attack on Comet Ping Pong, a Washington, D.C. pizzeria at the center of the baseless Pizzagate conspiracy theory. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, then a federal judge, handed down Welch’s sentence, stating his actions had left “psychological wreckage” for the business owner and employees who endured the armed invasion.

The Legacy of Pizzagate and the Rise of QAnon

Welch’s actions in 2016 were a direct result of the Pizzagate conspiracy theory, a false claim originating from a Reddit thread and amplified by far-right internet figures like Alex Jones. The theory alleged a child trafficking ring linked to prominent Democrats was operating out of Comet Ping Pong, leading Welch to enter the restaurant armed with an AR-15 and a revolver. He discharged his weapon inside the restaurant, but no one was injured. Welch later admitted he had been misled by misinformation and surrendered to police.

While Pizzagate was widely debunked, it laid the foundation for an even broader conspiracy movement: QAnon. The theory, which falsely claims a global cabal of elites engages in child trafficking, has since inspired real-world violence and been embraced by sections of the far-right, including figures associated with former President Donald Trump. Like Pizzagate, QAnon relies on misinformation, often with roots in historic anti-Semitic tropes, to create an apocalyptic narrative of secret elites kidnapping children and controlling world events.

The Dangers of Conspiracism

Welch’s trajectory from an average citizen to an armed conspiracy believer highlights the growing dangers of conspiratorial thinking. Conspiracism, or the belief in broad, deceptive plots orchestrated by powerful elites, oversimplifies societal problems and leads to real-world harm. The Pizzagate shooting was one of the first violent acts inspired by these theories, but it was far from the last. Since then, QAnon believers have been involved in multiple violent incidents, including the January 6th Capitol attack.

Experts warn that conspiracy theories are often weaponized by political actors to manipulate public perception and incite violence. While some conspiracies, such as political assassinations or organized crime, have historical basis, modern conspiracy theories often distort reality to serve ideological agendas. As conspiracy-driven movements continue to thrive, the risk of further violence remains high.

Conclusion

The death of Edgar Madison Welch marks the end of a troubling chapter in the intersection of internet-fueled misinformation and real-world violence. However, the forces that led to his radicalization remain active, with conspiracy theories continuing to shape political discourse and inspire violence. With conspiracy theorists gaining influence in mainstream politics, communities must remain vigilant against the spread of misinformation and its dangerous consequences.