Part 6/9:
The Final Encounter
In November 2001, police arrived at Cooper's home in Arizona under the guise of serving a warrant for tax evasion. Different accounts of the encounter exist—some state that Cooper fired first, while others claim that authorities initiated the conflict. Regardless, Cooper was shot down in front of his home, becoming a poignant example of the ultimate price a truth-seeker can pay.
The media narrative surrounding his death painted Cooper as a dangerous radical, amplifying their condemnation of his ideas. Official reports simplistically categorized him as a "conspiracy theorist," casting a pall over his legacy and allowing the establishment to continue operating with impunity.