Washington, D.C
Man at the center of Washington DC ‘Pizzagate’ killed during North Carolina traffic stop
‘Pizzagate’ gunman killed by police in North Carolina
Edgar Maddison Welch, the ‘Pizzagate’ suspect who stormed Comet Pizza in D.C. in 2016, was shot and killed by police in North Carolina last week.
Fox – 5 DC
The man who stormed into a Washington D.C. restaurant with loaded weapons during an incident widely known as “Pizzagate” is now dead after North Carolina police shot him during a traffic stop.
Edgar Maddison Welch, 36, was shot just after 10 p.m. last Saturday, Kannapolis Fire and Police wrote in a news release this week.
Welch is the same Salisbury, North Carolina man who in December 2016, showed up to Comet Ping Pong, a pizzeria in Washington DC., with loaded weapons to investigate “unfounded rumors concerning a child sex-trafficking ring” that was allegedly operating out of the restaurant, federal prosecutors said.
He pleaded guilty in March 2017 to a federal charge of interstate transportation of a firearm and ammunition, as well as a District of Columbia charge of assault with a dangerous weapon.
Three months later, he was sentenced to four years in prison.
What is ‘Pizzagate’? What happened at Comet Ping Pong?
Welch’s initial reason for making headlines in 2016 stemmed from rumors of a child sex trafficking ring allegedly operating out of the pizza restaurant he stormed into, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Columbia.
Rumors began circulating online that the restaurant was part of a trafficking ring operated by then-Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton – a fake news campaign targeting Clinton during the general election.
Welch allegedly tried to recruit people to participate in the storming of the restaurant leading up to Dec. 4. He’d texted someone saying he was “raiding a pedo ring” and sacrificing “the lives of a few for the lives of many.”
Prosecutors said Welch traveled from North Carolina to Washington D.C. with three loaded firearms, including a 9mm AR-15 assault rifle loaded with 29 rounds of ammunition, a fully-loaded, six-shot, .38-caliber revolver and a loaded shotgun with additional shotgun shells.
Welch parked his car and around 3 p.m., walked into the restaurant, where multiple employees and customers were present, including children, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Columbia said in a news release.
“He was carrying the AR-15 openly, with one hand on the pistol grip, and the other hand on the hand guard around the barrel, such that anyone with an unobstructed view could see the gun,” the office wrote in the news release.
Once customers and employees saw Welch, they fled the building. Welch was also accused of trying to get into a locked room by forcing the door open, first with a butter knife and then shooting his assault rifle multiple times into the door.
Shortly after he walked into the restaurant, an employee who had no idea what was going on walked in carrying pizza dough, federal prosecutors said. When Welch saw the employee, he turned toward the worker with the assault rifle, which made the employee think he was going to shoot them. The employee then ran out, leaving Welch alone in the restaurant.
Welch spent more than 20 minutes inside the restaurant, then walked out, leaving his firearms inside. Officials then arrested him.
When Welch was sentenced to four years in prison, he was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release, during which he’d have to get a mental health assessment.
He was also ordered to stay away from the Comet Ping Pong restaurant while released and to pay $5,744 in restitution for property damage.
What happened leading up to the Welch’s death?
The deadly traffic stop happened the night of Jan. 4, said Kannapolis Chief of Police Terry L. Spry in a news release.
Around 10 p.m., a Kannapolis Police Officer patrolling North Cannon Boulevard spotted a gray 2001 GMC Yukon. The officer recognized the vehicle because he’d previously arrested someone who frequently drove the vehicle, Welch. He also knew Welch had an outstanding warrant for his arrest, police said.
The officer stopped the vehicle and recognized the front seat passenger as Welch, who had an outstanding arrest warrant for felony probation violation, police said. While the officer was speaking with Welch, two additional officers showed up to help.
As the officer who made the traffic stop approached the passenger side of the vehicle and opened the front passenger door to arrest the individual, the passenger pulled out a handgun and pointed it at the officer.
The initial officer and a second officer who was standing at the rear passenger side of the Yukon ordered the man to drop the gun. After the passenger failed to lower his gun, both officers fired at him, hitting him.
Officials called for medical assistance for Welch who was taken to a hospital for treatment. He was later taken to another hospital, where he died from his injuries two days after the shooting.
None of the officers at the traffic stop were hurt and neither were the driver and back seat passenger in the vehicle with Welch.
The officers involved who fired their weapons were Officer Brooks Jones and Officer Caleb Tate. The third officer at the scene did not fire his weapon, police said.
District Attorney will decide next steps in traffic stop shooting death
An outside law enforcement agency has been requested to investigate the shooting.
“This practice ensures there is no bias during the investigation and the findings of the investigation are presented to the District Attorney without any influence by a member of the department,” the police chief wrote in the news release.
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation is still investigating the shooting and the two officers who fired their weapons are on administrative leave, which the police said is standard protocol.
Cabarrus County District Attorney Ashlie Shanley will decide what the next steps are, police said.
Contributing: Kevin Johnson, USA TODAY
Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY’s NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Follow her on Twitter at @SaleenMartin or email her at sdmartin@usatoday.com.

Washington, D.C
‘Hey, Meta. What’s in front of me?’ How AI glasses are changing a blind DC woman’s life

AI glasses let users take videos, stream music and capture everyday moments. For people who are blind and visually impaired, they can be a lifeline.
A native Washingtonian declared legally blind at birth showed News4 how the glasses are changing her life.
Chrichelle Brown is fiercely independent. She rides Metro, takes the bus and shops for groceries. On her own, she can see people and objects but not details. Using AI glasses, she has access to a lot more.
Originally designed for streaming and capturing video, members of the blind community quickly discovered another use. With a simple voice command, the glasses’ built-in camera, microphone and speakers let users talk with an AI assistant that can identify objects, read text and describe surroundings.
“It changes a lot. I’m even able to get descriptions. As I mentioned, I don’t see detail, so being able to ask, ‘Hey Meta, what’s in front of me?’ —it can give me extreme detail, up to what someone’s design is on their shirt,” Brown explained.
Without the glasses, she could see a News4 reporter’s shadow. With them, she knew she was wearing a white sweater and light-colored pants and has blonde hair and light eyes.
Brown teaches others how to use AI glasses at Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind in Silver Spring. Her three-day monthly seminar is free to the community.
On the day News4 met with her, she invited us along as she and a student, Rose, headed to Starbucks. Brown showed Rose how to ask Meta to read the menu. The glasses instantly described the options out loud. It was a small moment that symbolized something much bigger: independence as she often had to rely on others for help.
The glasses connect to a free app called Be My Eyes, which recently partnered with Meta. It links users to millions of volunteers around the world who can see what they can’t, providing real-time, audible feedback.
“I use them for a lot of things. I use them to sometimes help me pick out certain clothes if I think I want them to match a certain way,” Brown said. “If I’m at the store and they can’t find a representative, I will use Be My Eyes to get a volunteer to help me find the specific items at a grocery store.”
She said she’s careful not to rely on AI alone.
“Hey, Meta: How many steps?” Rose asked Brown. “What if this thing tells me there are no steps but there is steps?”
Brown told her to hold on to the railing.
“I always tell people that, you know, when I’m teaching a class, that these glasses are meant to enhance your independence but not replace the services and the knowledge that you have gained from taking the other classes,” she said.
Meta said its goal is to make the glasses more accessible. As the technology improves, advocates hope they’ll continue breaking barriers for people who are blind or visually impaired.
Sign up for our free deep-dive newsletter, The 4Front, to get standout News4 stories sent right to your inbox. Subscribe here.
Washington, D.C
National Guard could remain in DC through 2026

National Guard may stay in DC through 2026
District Attorney General Brian Schwalb says National Guard troops could remain in the city well beyond initial expectations, potentially through summer 2026, during the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration.
WASHINGTON – District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb says National Guard troops may be staying far longer than expected, possibly through the summer of 2026, when the nation celebrates its 250th anniversary.
FOX 5’s Maureen Umeh reports the National Guard first arrived in August after President Trump declared a crime emergency in the city.
Two months later, roughly 2,500 troops remain on duty as part of the “Safe and Beautiful” mission, working alongside local police and federal agencies.
READ MORE: National Guard deployment in DC extended to November, per Army memo
Troops may stay longer
In new court filings submitted Friday, Schwalb argues the deployment has shifted from a temporary assignment to a long-term military presence. He cites a recently released email from the Guard’s commanding general instructing troops to “winterize” and prepare for a “long-term persistent presence.”
Schwalb argues the mission violates federal law prohibiting military forces from performing domestic law enforcement. The White House disagrees, saying the president has full authority to deploy the Guard to protect federal assets and support police operations.
Public reaction mixed
Public reaction remains mixed, but many residents FOX 5 spoke with expressed concern about the extended stay in the city.
READ MORE: National Guard remains in DC following Trump’s federal takeover
The Source: Information in this article comes from District Attorney General Brian Schwalb and previous FOX 5 reporting.
Washington, D.C
How much are tickets for John Cena’s final WWE match in Washington, DC?

24 years after his WWE debut, The Prototype is hanging up his tights.
John Cena announced that his final WWE match, a Saturday Night Main Event, will take place at Washington, D.C.’s Capital One Arena on Saturday, Dec. 13.
As of now, no opponent for the 48-year-old wrestler/actor has been revealed yet. Prognosticators speculate that Gunther, whom he’s never faced before, may join him in the ring.
“Despite any speculation or rumors, on July 6, 2024 I announced I would retire from WWE in ring participation. I am far from perfect but strive to be a person whose word has value,” Cena shared in a post on X, formerly Twitter. “12/13/25 will be my final match. I am beyond grateful for every moment WWE has given me. I am excited for 12/13 & look forward to seeing all of you one last time.”
If you’d like to be there for the historic showdown in the Nation’s Capital, tickets are now officially available.
At the time of publication, the lowest price we could find on seats was $344 including fees on Vivid Seats.
Floor-level seats start at $1,115 including fees.
Prior to the D.C. match, The “Peacemaker” star has three other battles in the books before calling it quits.
In the event you can’t make his final fight, he’ll also headline:
Monday Night Raw
Boston’s TD Garden
Monday, Nov. 10
with Jey Uso, CM Punk, Dominik Mysterio, more
Monday Night Raw
New York City’s Madison Square Garden
Monday, Nov. 17
with Seth Rollins, Becky Lynch, CM Punk, more
Survivor Series: WarGames
San Diego’s Petco Park
Saturday, Nov. 29
Fighters TBD
Going into his swan song, Cena is a 17-time World Champion and known for signature moves like “the attitude adjustment,” the STF and the Five Knuckle Shuffle.
For more information, our team has everything you need to know and more about Cena’s last WWE matches below.
All prices listed above are subject to fluctuation.
John Cena WWE Washington, D.C. ticket prices
We found the best prices on tickets by section at Washington, D.C.’s Capital One Arena for Cena’s final match on Dec. 13.
Capital One Arena sections
Ticket prices
start at
400 level
$344
(including fees)
200 level
$544
(including fees)
100 level
$478
(including fees)
Suite level
$666
(including fees)
Floor level
$1,115
(including fees)
(Note: The New York Post confirmed all above prices at the publication time. All prices are in US dollars, subject to fluctuation and, if it isn’t noted, will include additional fees at checkout.)
Vivid Seats is a verified secondary market ticketing platform, and prices may be higher or lower than face value, depending on demand.
They offer a 100% buyer guarantee that states your transaction will be safe and secure and your tickets will be delivered prior to the event.
Still curious about Vivid Seats? You can find an article from their team about why the company is legit here.
John Cena WWE ticket prices
A complete calendar including the remainder of Cena’s final WWE matches — outside of his D.C. farewell — are listed here:
John Cena WWE dates
Ticket prices
start at
Nov. 10 at TD Garden in Boston, MA
$129
(including fees)
Nov. 17 at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY
$236
(including fees)
Nov. 29 at PETCO Park in San Diego, CA
$223
(including fees)
John Cena upcoming film projects
As Cena winds down his time in the ring, he’s spending more time than ever on set. On top of his work in “Peacemaker,” here are all the films coming from him this year and next:
“Coyote vs. Acme” is a long-awaited hybrid of live-action and animation from Warner Bros. bringing comedy ringers like Cena, Will Forte, P.J. Byrne, Luis Guzmán and Martha Kelly together with the Looney Tunes, particularly Wile E. Coyote who sues Acme since every product he’s ever used of theirs while chasing Road Runner has failed spectacularly. Courtroom cartoons? Sign us up.
“Matchbox” stars Cena as “a former soldier who reunites with childhood friends after a successful mission, only to be kidnapped and framed,” according to The Prague Reporter. Jessica Biel, Sam Richardson, Arturo Castro, Teyonah Parris and Corey Stoll round out the star-studded cast.
“Little Brother” pits Cena against anarchic comic Eric André in a story about a realtor whose orderly life is upended by his eccentric younger brother. Other big names joining the pair in the Netflix film include Michelle Monaghan, Christopher Meloni, Ego Nwodim, and Sherry Cola.
Huge 2025-26 concerts
Hoping to catch a show or three in the near future, too?
Here are just five of our favorite options you won’t want to miss live these next few months.
• RUSH
• Ghost
• Nine Inch Nails
• Robert Plant
• Bring Me The Horizon
Who else is out and about? Take a look at this list of all the biggest rockers on tour in 2025-26 to find the show for you.
This article was written by Matt Levy, New York Post live events reporter. Levy stays up-to-date on all the latest tour announcements from your favorite musical artists and comedians, as well as Broadway openings, sporting events and more live shows – and finds great ticket prices online. Since he started his tenure at the Post in 2022, Levy has reviewed a Bruce Springsteen concert and interviewed Melissa Villaseñor of SNL fame, to name a few. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change
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