Demolition Ranch Founder Responds to Trump Shooting by Wearing His Merchandise

On Monday, Demolition Ranch founder Matt Carriker shared a video on his channel — which is popular among gun enthusiasts — to distance himself and his brand from 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, who was identified as the shooter who attempted to assassinate Trump at his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday.

In the nearly six-minute video, Carriker addressed his 11 million subscribers and introduced himself to new viewers, before sharing his reaction to seeing Crooks wearing a Demolition Ranch t-shirt.

“In all my videos, we don’t talk about politics at all. We leave it aside,” he explained. “On the one hand, it’s not my livelihood, but I don’t feel the need to impose my opinions and political beliefs on others.”

“However, we were immersed in the conversation after last weekend,” he continued.

Carriker added: “We were shocked and confused to learn that the shooter who attempted to assassinate Trump was wearing merchandise from my channel, a Demolition Ranch t-shirt. And it sucked to see that. Yeah, it was tough.”

Carriker, who also owns a few other chains and is a veterinarian, said his T-shirt company is based in his hometown in Texas, noting that merchandise is printed there and shipped “all over the world.”

“We don’t vet the people who buy our shirts, obviously, that would be impossible,” he said, adding that he “would love to stop people like (Crooks) from buying, wearing, being associated with this garment.”

“I would have preferred that he couldn’t get a shirt, but it happened,” Carriker said.

“Seeing my name next to the shooter’s name… ugh, that sucks. And I wish we could prevent that from happening,” he continued.

“No matter what political affiliation you’re on, none of us want violence. This channel was never intended to incite violence or hatred,” Carriker added. “It never has. It is not, and will never be, a channel that does that.”

According to Carriker, media outlets contacted him to ask if he had an alleged relationship with the shooter, including whether they had met.

“No. He bought a shirt online and unfortunately wore it that day,” he concluded, before adding that seeing his name next to Trump and the shooter was “not on (his) 2024 bingo card.”

Meanwhile, earlier in the video, Carriker sent his condolences to the rally shooting victim and the two other rally attendees who were injured.

“I’m so sorry for your loss,” he said. “It’s terrible, and I hate that this happened to her, and to all of you, and I wish you the best. This is the worst. For those who were injured in the shooting, I also wish you a speedy recovery, and I pray that you can recover without pain, both physically and mentally.”

As shown in the video sequencesOn Saturday, Crooks opened fire from a rooftop near the Butler rally. He was fatally shot by Secret Service agents seconds later.

The shots hit Trump in the ear, wounded two rally-goers and killed one rally-goer, who was identified later as Corey Comperatore, a volunteer firefighter and married father of two.

As for Crooks, the FBI identified the 20-year-old as the subject involved in the assassination attempt.

A law enforcement official said: CNN that Crooks was photographed wearing the Demolition Ranch T-shirt at an ammunition store, in addition to the time of the shooting.

According to USA TodayPennsylvania voting records show Crooks is a registered Republican and his voter registration status has been active since 2021. He has no criminal record in Pennsylvania.

TMZ posted photos of Crooks, including an image from what appeared to be his high school graduation. According to the New York TimesCrooks graduated from Bethel Park High School in 2022.

The FBI did not provide further details, including a motive for the crime. The investigation is ongoing.