Trump shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks wore popular influencer's merch during attack: ‘Shocked and confused’

popular firearms influencer Matt Carriker has revealed that Thomas Matthew Crooks was wearing one of his branded t-shirts at the time of the shooting.

Published on: Jul 16, 2024, 11:43:16 IST

By Sumanti Sen

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A popular firearms influencer has revealed that he was “shocked and confused” to find that Thomas Matthew Crooks, who tried to assassinate Donald Trump, was wearing one of his branded t-shirts at the time of the shooting. Crooks, 20, was killed by Secret Service snipers after he opened fire, injuring Trump and two other people, and killing a firefighter at a Pennsylvania rally.

Thomas Matthew Crooks wore a popular influencer's merch during the shooting (The Bethel Park School District via AP) (AP)

“That sucked to see that. That was rough,” influencer Matt Carriker said of Crooks wearing the t-shirt, in a video posted to YouTube.

‘We don’t vet the people who buy our shirts’

On the shooting day, Crooks reportedly wore a grey t-shirt emblazoned with an American flag on the sleeve. The word ‘Demolitia’ was stretched across the chest and back. The t-shirt matched merch sold by Carriker as part of his online channel, titled Demolition Ranch.

“As a lot of you guys know — and we were shocked and confused to find this out — the shooter who tried to assassinate Trump was wearing merch from my channel, wearing a Demolition Ranch T-shirt,” Carriker said.

“We don’t vet the people who buy our shirts … I wish I could,” Carriker added. “I would love to keep people like that from buying, wearing, being associated with that article of clothing.”

Carriker, a Texas-based veterinarian, runs two firearms channels. “I wish he couldn’t get a shirt, but it happened,” he said.

“I think the difference in a gunman wearing a pair of Nike shoes and a gunman wearing my t-shirt is this brand is much more personal to me than Nike is to its executives,” Carriker added. “To see my name next to the shooter’s name — I wish we could keep that from happening.”

Carriker went on to say that the media and other parties have been calling him, asking him if he knew Crooks. However, he clarified that Crooks was simply a fan who bought a t-shirt from his online store.

Voter status records revealed that Crooks was a registered Republican. His motive remains unclear.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sumanti Sen
Sumanti Sen covers everything that’s happening in the US, from politics to entertainment, but her expertise lies in covering crime news. She has comprehensively chronicled the Idaho student murders, the Laken Riley and Iryna Zarutska cases, and the killing of Charlie Kirk, among other incidents. Over the years, she has interviewed several victims/families of victims of crimes seeking justice. She digs up stories that might otherwise remain unheard, and does her bit to ensure that victims and survivors’ voices are heard. Sumanti’s many years of experience also include interviews with Hamas attack survivors and mental health experts, among others. Her coverage of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel and interviews with survivors of the tragedy, coupled with her other works including the Titan submersible coverage, earned her the Digi Journo of the Quarter award during her first year at Hindustan Times. Sumanti actively tracks missing person cases in the United States, and peruses Reddit and other social media platforms to bring to light cases that frequently elude public attention. She has extensively covered the disappearances of Nancy Guthrie, Thomas Medlin, Beau Mann, and Sudiksha Konanki, among others. When not at work, you will either find her with her novels, or with her beloved rescue pooches.Read More

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