A 21-year-old YouTube prankster, known for his channel “Classified Goons,” was shot in the stomach while filming a prank video outside a shopping mall near Washington DC. Tanner Cook was with his friends when Alan Collie, 31, shot him in the stomach and liver with a semi-automatic pistol. Cook is still in hospital following surgery. The incident was caught on camera by a fellow prankster and is now being used as evidence. Collie has been charged with aggravated malicious wounding, shooting in the commission of a felony, and discharging firearms within an occupied building.
Cook’s family said that the footage was an important piece of evidence against Collie. While some have criticized Cook and his prank videos, his family insists that he was “just out there being goofy.” Cook has been making prank videos for the past three years on his Facebook page, “Muhhamed,” and has more than 38,000 subscribers eagerly waiting for his latest videos.
This incident is not the first time that YouTube pranksters have faced serious repercussions for their actions. In another incident in Virginia, YouTube “prankster” Zdorovetskiy, who goes by the name Tannerite, was shot in the arm by a homeowner after breaking into a house while filming a prank video. The homeowner, Daniel Stephen Parks, was arrested and charged with malicious wounding.
Some of Cook’s previous prank videos involved filming himself and his friends engaging in distasteful behavior in public places. These pranks included threatening to vomit in people’s cars, accusing customers at pet stores of stealing animals, and pretending to be a clown while riding mobility scooters around a supermarket. Cook and his family have received numerous threatening messages since the shooting, with some stating that Cook deserved to be shot.
Overall, this incident raises questions about the safety of individuals who engage in risky behaviors for entertainment purposes. While prank videos have become increasingly popular on YouTube, the consequences of these pranks can be severe and unpredictable. The incident also highlights the need for personal responsibility when engaging in such behaviors and the importance of considering the potential impact on others. As Cook continues to recover from his injuries, it is hoped that this incident will serve as a cautionary tale for others who engage in similar activities.
