Texas YouTuber 'shocked and confused' after Trump gunman wore merch shirt
AUSTIN (KXAN) — A Texas YouTuber is speaking out after photos showed the gunman from this weekend's Donald Trump rally wearing merchandise associated with his channel.
The 20-year-old alleged gunman wore the shirt on the day of the shooting from firearms-related YouTube channel Demolition Ranch. YouTuber Matt Carriker said he was "shocked and confused to find this out."
"We generally just stay away from the topic of politics. However, we were obviously kind of thrust into the conversation after last weekend," Carriker said in a YouTube video Monday.
The company has a large social media following with over a million followers on Facebook and Instagram. Carriker posts videos on a YouTube channel described as "not your average gun channel." His videos have amassed over 2.4 billion views and over 11 million subscribers.
Carriker owns the company that makes and prints the Demolition Ranch shirts in Texas. The shirts are shipped around the world. He said the company cannot vet who buys their shirts online, and his channel was never meant to incite violence or hate.
"To see my name next to the shooter's name … it sucks and I wish we could keep that from happening," he said in the video.
Carriker posted a photo on Instagram showing the deceased gunman wearing the shirt, adding a caption reading, "What the hell."
"Wishing the best to everyone affected by this," Carriker said in the video. "Obviously, the way I'm affected is nothing compared to the way some people are affected by this."
Nexstar's KXAN reached out to Demolition Ranch for a statement and has not yet received a reply