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submitted 11 months ago by ZeroCool@feddit.ch to c/news@lemmy.world

A YouTube prankster who was shot by one his targets told jurors Tuesday he had no inkling he had scared or angered the man who fired on him as the prank was recorded.

Tanner Cook, whose “Classified Goons” channel on YouTube has more than 55,000 subscribers, testified nonchalantly about the shooting at start of the trial for 31-year-old Alan Colie, who's charged with aggravated malicious wounding and two firearms counts.

The April 2 shooting at the food court in Dulles Town Center, about 45 minutes west of Washington, D.C., set off a panic as shoppers fled what they feared to be a mass shooting.

Jurors also saw video of the shooting, recorded by Cook's associates. The two interacted for less than 30 seconds. Video shows Cook approaching Colie, a DoorDash driver, as he picked up an order. The 6-foot-5 (1.95-meter-tall) Cook looms over Colie while holding a cellphone about 6 inches (15 centimeters) from Colie's face. The phone broadcasts the phrase “Hey dips—-, quit thinking about my twinkle” multiple times through a Google Translate app.

On the video, Colie says “stop” three different times and tries to back away from Cook, who continues to advance. Colie tries to knock the phone away from his face before pulling out a gun and shooting Cook in the lower left chest.

Cook, 21, testified Tuesday that he tries to confuse the targets of his pranks for the amusement of his online audience. He said he doesn't seek to elicit fear or anger, but acknowledged his targets often react that way.

Asked why he didn't stop the prank despite Colie's repeated requests, Cook said he “almost did” but not because he sensed fear or anger from Colie. He said Colie simply wasn't exhibiting the type of reaction Cook was looking for.

“There was no reaction,” Cook said.

In opening statements, prosecutors urged jurors to set aside the off-putting nature of Cook's pranks.

“It was stupid. It was silly. And you may even think it was offensive,” prosecutor Pamela Jones said. “But that's all it was — a cellphone in the ear that got Tanner shot.”

Defense attorney Tabatha Blake said her client didn't have the benefit of knowing he was a prank victim when he was confronted with Cook's confusing behavior.

She said the prosecution's account of the incident “diminishes how unsettling they were to Mr. Alan Colie at the time they occurred.”

In the video, before the encounter with Colie, Cook and his friends can be heard workshopping the phrase they want to play on the phone. One of the friends urges that it be “short, weird and awkward.”

Cook's “Classified Goons” channel is replete with repellent stunts, like pretending to vomit on Uber drivers and following unsuspecting customers through department stores. At a preliminary hearing, sheriff's deputies testified that they were well aware of Cook and have received calls about previous stunts. Cook acknowledged during cross-examination Tuesday that mall security had tossed him out the day prior to the shooting as he tried to record pranks and that he was trying to avoid security the day he targeted Colie.

Jury selection took an entire day Monday, largely because of publicity the case received in the area. At least one juror said during the selection process that she herself had been a victim of one of Cook's videos.

Cook said he continues to make the videos and earns $2,000 or $3,000 a month. His subscriber base increased from 39,000 before the shooting to 55,000 after.

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[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 75 points 11 months ago

Asked why he didn’t stop the prank despite Colie’s repeated requests, Cook said he “almost did” but not because he sensed fear or anger from Colie. He said Colie simply wasn’t exhibiting the type of reaction Cook was looking for.

He wasn't giving me material for my viewers, so I kept annoying him until he shot me! Why is this my fault?!

[-] DragonTypeWyvern@literature.cafe 40 points 11 months ago

Not annoying, threatening. Advancing despite being told to stop repeatedly is a threat.

[-] Someonelol@lemmy.ml 67 points 11 months ago

These prank channels should be completely demonetized to remove the incentive of doing stupid shit like this in the first place.

[-] Fredselfish@lemmy.world 30 points 11 months ago

No shit curse first 10 seconds get demonetized. Terrorize some one and you can earn 3k a month. YouTube should remove his channel and if they don't get fucking sue to for allowing the content.

Fucking shooter a hero and stood his ground prankster should apologize and be greatful he isn't dead.

Because as any train gun owner knows your not supposed to pull your gun unless it shoot to kill.

[-] TopRamenBinLaden@sh.itjust.works 10 points 11 months ago

While I agree the YouTube kid kind of got what was coming to him, the shooter isn't a straight up hero.

As annoying as this kid was it doesn't sound like he ever touched the guy. I would completely understand the shooter shoving, punching, or even using mace/taser on the YouTube guy, but jumping straight to shooting someone over that is just a bit unhinged behavior, at least in my opinion.

I am not against CCW or self defense or anything, but the shooter definitely went overboard, and I wouldn't be surprised if he is found guilty in the court case.

[-] kmkz_ninja@lemmy.world 9 points 11 months ago

Yeah, weird take that annoying somebody or even getting up in their face is grounds for execution. Get security, get the cops, whatever. They weren't in any danger. They were just scared.

[-] pr06lefs@lemmy.ml 9 points 11 months ago

People get scared because they think they are in danger. The delivery driver didn't know where things were going to stop in this encounter, and I don't blame him one bit for putting a stop to it before he got beaten or stabbed.

But if the delivery driver wasn't scared it wouldn't have been a fun prank for mr 6 foot 5 and his dimwit subscribers. He relies on intimidation to get away with his shenanigans, if he wasn't so physically threatening he would have had his ass beat before now, and deservedly so. Fuck that guy.

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[-] Turbo@lemmy.ml 64 points 11 months ago

What a douche bag

[-] billwashere@lemmy.world 52 points 11 months ago

Sounds like a good case of “fuck around and find out” to me. Acting aggressively and being a douche just to get views on YouTube is a good way to get shot. Especially when the shooter specifically asked him to stop several times. I really do not like douche nozzles like this guy.

[-] MossyFeathers@pawb.social 51 points 11 months ago

I hope Colie goes free and I hope Cook gets sued for everything he has. I don't know what you'd sue him for, but find something before he gets someone actually killed.

[-] Whiskey_iicarus@lemmy.world 34 points 11 months ago

I think getting shot is punishment enough, but Cook should at least be banned from posting anymore pranks to his YouTube. They should really shut down his YouTube channel if we're being honest and nothing of value will be lost.

[-] shalafi@lemmy.world 11 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

Fuck all that. Attitudes like that are why Americans think they can just blast away. You won't see my pistol until I'm certain killing you is my very last resort. And if I pull it, it's because I mean to use it.

Did this idiot think his life was in danger from an annoying man with a cell phone, in the middle of a fucking food court?! No. He used his gun as a "get off of me" tool. He's damned lucky Cook survived.

EDIT: I seriously hope some of you people do not conceal carry. The comments here are terrifying and completely ignorant of case law, attitudes comprised only of feels.

[-] Ensign_Crab@lemmy.world 39 points 11 months ago

The prankster evidently has some fans here on lemmy, if this thread is any indication. Bummer. I was hoping lemmy wouldn't attract people that insufferably stupid.

[-] Speculater@lemmy.world 31 points 11 months ago

Do I think he deserved to be shot? No. Do I understand it? Absolutely.

[-] Junkers_Klunker@lemmy.world 29 points 11 months ago

I fucking HATE "pranksters. He shouldve shit him to death.

[-] ZeroCool@feddit.ch 19 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

He shouldve shit him to death.

I don't think I'd wish anyone to be shit to death. That sounds awful.

[-] DarkenLM@kbin.social 16 points 11 months ago

Except pranksters, those can rot in hell.

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 6 points 11 months ago

Not even Putin?

[-] ChunkMcHorkle@lemmy.world 3 points 11 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

deleted by creator

[-] theKalash@feddit.ch 27 points 11 months ago

That's one way to improve content quality on youtube.

[-] tsonfeir@lemm.ee 14 points 11 months ago
[-] sndmn@lemmy.ca 9 points 11 months ago

What a giant piece of shit.

[-] SSUPII@sopuli.xyz 9 points 11 months ago

There was no reason for the person to be shot. Disgusting.

[-] tsonfeir@lemm.ee 26 points 11 months ago
[-] SSUPII@sopuli.xyz 7 points 11 months ago

The person who shot did it directly, without actually showing what was he carrying. Just showing the gun would have had a better effect with no injuries and no arrest.

You are an asshole for defending getting hurt for this from both sides.

[-] SaintWacko@midwest.social 24 points 11 months ago

Yeah, I can't believe that while being threatened by a large, erratically acting man, he didn't think to calmly try to defuse the situation/s

[-] SSUPII@sopuli.xyz 4 points 11 months ago

There are ways to defuse a situation not entirely calmly without firing a gun.

[-] AbidanYre@lemmy.world 23 points 11 months ago

Like saying stop multiple times and trying to back away? Hey look, he did that and the asshole kept advancing towards him.

[-] tsonfeir@lemm.ee 20 points 11 months ago

Are you kidding? Showing the gun to an attacker who is far larger than you is a ridiculous idea. They will just wrestle the gun away. This poor driver got scared out of his wits by a total human trash can who refused to stop when asked. That’s basically rape—of the mind.

He was attacked. And he defended himself. The YouTuber should be in jail for harassment.

What world are you living in? Lmfao.

[-] SSUPII@sopuli.xyz 4 points 11 months ago

And in what backwards world are you living where someone had to risk his life for this. The prankster should be punished for harassment, but doesn't leave the fact that someone SHOT HIM FOR THAT. Nobody should be shot in a situation like this, period.

[-] tsonfeir@lemm.ee 19 points 11 months ago

No body should have put the shooter IN this position.

Don’t go up to people and play loud noises and shove things in their face and keep going even when asked to stop. The YouTuber started it. They should pull his videos, give him community service, and ban him from producing online content for 10 years.

The driver, the real victim, works a dangerous job and thought he was being attacked. The YouTuber said himself that the videos are designed to confuse and disorient his victims to see how they will react. Well, he found out the hard way what he’s doing is immoral.

I’m guessing your main problem is the gun itself. I mean, I’m definitely a proponent of gun laws, but I’m smart enough to see who the started it, and who the real victim is.

[-] SSUPII@sopuli.xyz 3 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

I can see that completely too. In fact you nailed my problem and that is with the usage of the gun, nothing else.

The prankster did absolutely wrong, I never tried to reduce that. But at the same time, was there really no other way to manage the situation? I want to wish there was, but at the same time also cannot know and very likely wasn't. Still, it won't remove me from being disappointed that it had to end in injury.

[-] tsonfeir@lemm.ee 12 points 11 months ago

No, there is no other way to manage the situation. You cannot ask a victim to pause step back and kindly ask their attacker to stop. tell me, honestly, would you ask a female rape victim to kindly ask their much larger male attacker to stop? Yes, it is the same thing.

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[-] teft@startrek.website 20 points 11 months ago

Just showing the gun is called brandishing and is illegal. You don’t announce you have a weapon before you shoot someone because you could get shot if you do.

You are an asshole defending an asshole.

[-] SSUPII@sopuli.xyz 6 points 11 months ago

I didn't say it was not criminal, only that it would have had no injuries.

[-] teft@startrek.website 11 points 11 months ago

Spoken like someone who knows little of self defense and firearms regulations.

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[-] TheBananaKing@lemmy.world 4 points 11 months ago

Only in america is it legal and normal to attempt to murder someone for :checks notes: holding your phone near them.

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this post was submitted on 27 Sep 2023
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