A well-known firearms influencer has recently expressed his shock and confusion upon discovering that the individual responsible for attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump was wearing one of his branded t-shirts during the attack. The incident occurred at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, where Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, attempted to shoot the former president but narrowly missed him, hitting an audience member instead who subsequently died from their injuries.
Matt Carriker, owner of the popular online channel Demolition Ranch and a Texas-based veterinarian, shared his dismay in a recent video which quickly gained over 1 million views within its first four hours. The video highlighted how Crooks was wearing a gray t-shirt featuring an American flag on the sleeve and the word “Demolitia” across the chest and back, matching merchandise that Carriker sells through his online platform.
Carriker emphasized to his 11 million subscribers that he does not have control over who purchases his shirts, admitting that if he could, he would love to prevent people like Crooks from being able to buy and wear them. He expressed frustration at the association between his brand and the actions of the shooter.
Crooks’ actions raised several questions about his motivations for targeting a Republican political event, given his registered status as a member of the same party. Former classmates have also described him as being “comically bad” with guns, having been rejected from his high school’s rifle team due to both his lack of skill and concerning jokes he made during practice sessions.
As law enforcement sources continue their investigation into the incident, Carriker hopes that this tragic event will not permanently tarnish the reputation of his brand and online channel, which has gained significant popularity among firearms enthusiasts worldwide.
