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.
On Thursday, May 29, 2025, Spring Hill Assistant City Administrator Dan Allen, accompanied by Mayor Matt Fitterer, traveled to Washington D.C. to take part in a congressional briefing regarding water reclamation.
The panel was composed of five experts in the field, including Allen. He was flanked by representatives from Pepsi and Amazon, among others. Allen specifically focused on the impact of water resources on recruiting for economic development purposes.
“Spring Hill is expanding rapidly, and our industries — especially automotive manufacturing — rely on large volumes of high-quality water to operate,” Assistant City Administrator Dan Allen told congressional staffers. “By reusing water, we can reduce strain on the Duck River, ensure reliable supply for new and existing businesses, and protect our environment. It’s a smart
investment that balances economic expansion with environmental stewardship.”
While in Washington D.C., Allen and Fitterer also met with Senator Blackburn and Senator Hagerty’s offices, stressing the importance of water reclamation for Spring Hill.
“Spring Hill’s water reclamation pilot project will position us as the leader in water reclamation in Tennessee. We are committed to leading from the front and helping push forward this important initiative for all of Tennessee,” said Mayor Matt Fitterer. “Staff’s efforts have brought positive national attention to Spring Hill. Spring Hill residents deserve high quality and sustainable utilities. The Board of Mayor and Aldermen and City staff are committed to delivering for them.”
The City of Spring Hill is currently moving forward with plans for an Advanced Purification Pilot Project. The Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation gave clearance to the pilot in August of last year.
The overall Advanced Purification Project plan outlines how the City of Spring Hill will maximize its fair share of water from the Duck River through extensive treatment processes at an expanded Wastewater Treatment Plant and accompanying reservoir.
Construction of the Advanced Purification Pilot Project is scheduled to begin later this year.
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Washington, D.C
Weekend road closures take over DC, Virginia as Amazon Armed Forces Cycling Classic kicks off – WTOP News
This weekend, you might encounter a detour or two in the District or in Arlington, Virginia, as the Amazon Armed Forces Cycling Classic comes underway.
The first race of the day kicks off at 7 a.m. Saturday.
The following areas will be closed to traffic on Saturday from 4 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.:
-
- 12th Street South from South Eads Street to Crystal Drive
- S. Clark Street from 12th Street South to 14th Road South
- 14th Road South from South Clark Street to 15th Street South
- Westbound 15th Street South from Crystal Drive to South Eads Street
- South Eads Street from 12th Street South to Army Navy Drive
- Long Bridge Drive from 10th Street South to 12th Street South
- Richmond Highway from 20th Street South to Interstate 395
- Virginia Route 110 from Richmond Highway to Wilson Boulevard/Interstate 66
- Army Navy Drive from South Eads Street to 12th Street South
Crystal Drive from 12th Street South to 15th Street South will be open to local traffic only.
Additionally, all vehicles departing via Memorial Avenue will be unable to turn left onto Route 110 South from 5 a.m. to 12 p.m. Inbound traffic will be able to access Memorial Avenue via the George Washington Parkway and Memorial Circle from 5 a.m. to 12 p.m.
The following areas will be closed to traffic on Sunday for the Armed Forces Cycling Classic Clarendon Cup from 5:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.:
- Wilson Boulevard from North Edgewood Street to North Highland Street
- Wilson Boulevard from 10th Street North to Washington Boulevard
- North Fillmore Street from Clarendon Boulevard to Wilson Boulevard
- Clarendon Boulevard from Washington Boulevard to North Edgewood Street
- Washington Boulevard from Kirkwood Road to North Garfield Street
- Washington Boulevard from North Garfield Street to 10th Street North (westbound only)
- North Highland Street from Washington Boulevard to 13th Street North
- North Garfield Street from Clarendon Boulevard to Wilson Boulevard
Wilson Boulevard from North Highland Street to Washington Boulevard, will close earlier, starting at 3 a.m.
There will be no access to Clarendon Boulevard from North Fillmore Street. On North Highland Street, access to the public parking garage in the 1300 block of N. Highland Street will be available to the public.
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Washington, D.C
Tornado warning: Washington DC, Baltimore, Philadelphia and NYC on alert amid heavy thunderstorms
Washington, DC, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York City are under heightened alert as the National Weather Service (NWS) issued Tornado Watch, effective until midnight EDT on Friday. The warning covers parts of Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
The watch, announced by NWS offices in State College, PA, Mount Holly, NJ, and Wakefield, VA, warns of severe thunderstorms bringing risks of damaging winds, large hail, and isolated tornadoes across 22 counties and multiple coastal waters, including Delaware Bay and Chesapeake Bay.
The NWS Mount Holly office reported that the watch spans major urban centers, including Philadelphia, Wilmington, and Atlantic City, with potential hazards like ping pong ball-sized hail and wind gusts up to 65 mph. Coastal areas face additional threats from thunderstorms moving over waters from Sandy Hook, NJ, to Fenwick Island, DE. In Pennsylvania, Adams, Lancaster, and York counties, including Gettysburg and Lancaster, are at risk, while Virginia’s watch covers 53 counties, from Richmond to Virginia Beach.
Heavy rainfall accompanying the storms has raised concerns about flash flooding, particularly in low-lying areas from eastern Kentucky to southern New York. The NWS warned of life-threatening flooding in urban zones like Philadelphia and Trenton, with up to one inch of rain already fallen and an additional 1–1.5 inches possible in some areas. Residents are urged to avoid flooded roads and seek shelter in sturdy buildings, ideally in basements or interior rooms away from windows.
Social media users and weather reporters noted a flash flood threat north of DC into the overnight hours. One forecaster confirmed the tornado watch for DC and Baltimore. The storms, fueled by a dynamic low-pressure system, could produce isolated tornadoes, prompting officials to advise immediate action if warnings are issued.
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