YouTuber Timothy Wilks Shot Dead Filming Robbery Prank
YouTube pranks have been around for almost as long as the platform itself, and while many of them are completely harmless, some take things a little too far and wind up getting someone injured or even killed. Such is the case of YouTuber Timothy Wilks, who was shot dead last Friday after a “robbery prank” went awry.
The 20-year-old Tennessee man was reportedly recording the prank in the parking lot of Urban Air, a trampoline park, in Hermitage alongside a friend (who was not identified by police) at around 9 p.m. According to the police report, Wilks and his friend intended to stage a fake robbery for his channel where they would approach a car with butcher knives in their hands.
20 year old Nashville youtuber Timothy Wilks was killed after he approached a group of guys with butcher knives as part of a 'prank' robbery for youtube.. shooter said he was unaware of the prank & shot him to defend himself & others. No one has been charged in Wilks' death. pic.twitter.com/70BTeX0vNJ
— Saycheese TV 👄🧀 (@SaycheeseDGTL) February 7, 2021
Upon approaching a group of people with the knives drawn, 23-year-old David Starnes Jr. then shot Wilks, killing him. According to Starnes, he claimed to have acted in self-defense and was unaware of the prank entirely. Police said they are currently investigating his self-defense claim, and Starnes is not facing charges for his actions.
“This is like a huge kids area, and when we were in there, there were a ton of tiny kids and it’s just like, that would not be a great idea, especially if anyone was walking out here or something like that,” Emily Yeager, a customer at the trampoline park, told WKRN during an interview.
Wilks’s prank gone wrong adds to a long list of YouTubers being killed during pranks and stunts. In 2017, YouTubers Monalisa Perez and Pedro Ruiz similarly made headlines after Ruiz was killed in a stunt where he was holding a book expected to stop a bullet.
In early 2019, following a wave of such incidents, YouTube banned dangerous and harmful pranks from its platform, but the content has remained prevalent despite their efforts. Examples of these have millions of views on YouTube, though some have been deleted.
In the wake of Wilks’s death, numerous users from Reddit and beyond have tried to track down his YouTube channel, but it appears that it was removed sometime between Friday and Monday.
Comments ( 23 )
Ok, NRA supporter…
Literally fucking WHO?
I saw this news appear and assumed he must have been a big guy, but a search for him on this site returns nothing; this is his first mention on Know Your Meme whatsoever.
(See)
This guy was a literal nobody, and this story should not have been posted here; you had me assuming a major viral star had been killed.
I don't think that's the point.
Stupid prank videos have been a thing for a while (and by stupid, I mean poorly-thought-out and/or harmful). It doesn't matter if he was famous or not; he tried to follow that formula, did something even more stupid than the norm for these kinds of videos, and paid the price for it.
In other words, this was an avoidable tragedy. Mourn the loss of youth – something which is always sad to see taken away – and hope that people (namely young folks like him) learn from his mistake.
Also, this site is meant to document all kinds of internet phenomena; this guy was a YouTuber, thus it is relevant. And even it wasn't, my previous point still stands.
This tragedy would have been avoided if USA had a real gun legislation.
You make a silly prank, so it's normal to be shot? No! It's not normal!! The other guy shouldn't had a firearm in the first place!
You'd rather read about the tragedy of a guy getting stabbed with a butcher's knife instead.
Look, I'm in favor of better gun rules, too. However, the fact of the matter is that if you approach someone while brandishing a big knife, you're either A) gonna cause genuine panic and ruin someone's day, or B) face retaliation of some kind (either directly or by someone calling the cops on you). There's no good outcome to this.
The tragedy would have been avoided if Timothy had at least a double-digit IQ.
If someone pulls a deadly weapon on you, you have a natural right to defend yourself with proportional force (ie. lethal force) to neutralize the threat.
And yes, this applies even outside the US – you just might have to improvise a means to defend yourself. Obviously, fleeing is preferable (because it is safer) but if that's not possible, you don't just stand there and wait to get stabbed.
And yes, this applies even outside the US – you just might have to improvise a means to defend yourself. Obviously, fleeing is preferable (because it is safer) but if that's not possible, you don't just stand there and wait to get stabbed.
More important than gun laws, is actually bringing the average intelligence of the country up. Without guns it still could've been rocks, anything else on hand, or a car.
Without guns, his chances of survival would have been greately higher.
And with common sense that chance would be even higher. Treat the cause, not the symptom.
This "its just a prank bro!" nonsense is what caused this. Removing guns isn't going to stop people from doing genuinely stupid fucking shit because "its just a prank bro, haha funny".
Wilks' chances of survival are irrelevant here. He played a stupid game and won a stupid prize.
Only the would-be victim's chances of survival matter in a potential assault confrontation.
And with common sense that chance would be even higher. Treat the cause, not the symptom.
This "its just a prank bro!" nonsense is what caused this. Removing guns isn't going to stop people from doing genuinely stupid fucking shit because "its just a prank bro, haha funny".
Wilks' chances of survival are irrelevant here. He played a stupid game and won a stupid prize.
Only the would-be victim's chances of survival matter in a potential assault confrontation.
You'd rather read about the tragedy of a guy getting stabbed with a butcher's knife instead.
Look, I'm in favor of better gun rules, too. However, the fact of the matter is that if you approach someone while brandishing a big knife, you're either A) gonna cause genuine panic and ruin someone's day, or B) face retaliation of some kind (either directly or by someone calling the cops on you). There's no good outcome to this.
The tragedy would have been avoided if Timothy had at least a double-digit IQ.
If someone pulls a deadly weapon on you, you have a natural right to defend yourself with proportional force (ie. lethal force) to neutralize the threat.
And yes, this applies even outside the US – you just might have to improvise a means to defend yourself. Obviously, fleeing is preferable (because it is safer) but if that's not possible, you don't just stand there and wait to get stabbed.
And yes, this applies even outside the US – you just might have to improvise a means to defend yourself. Obviously, fleeing is preferable (because it is safer) but if that's not possible, you don't just stand there and wait to get stabbed.
This tragedy would have been avoided if USA had a real gun legislation.
You make a silly prank, so it's normal to be shot? No! It's not normal!! The other guy shouldn't had a firearm in the first place!
You'd rather read about the tragedy of a guy getting stabbed with a butcher's knife instead.
Look, I'm in favor of better gun rules, too. However, the fact of the matter is that if you approach someone while brandishing a big knife, you're either A) gonna cause genuine panic and ruin someone's day, or B) face retaliation of some kind (either directly or by someone calling the cops on you). There's no good outcome to this.
The tragedy would have been avoided if Timothy had at least a double-digit IQ.
If someone pulls a deadly weapon on you, you have a natural right to defend yourself with proportional force (ie. lethal force) to neutralize the threat.
And yes, this applies even outside the US – you just might have to improvise a means to defend yourself. Obviously, fleeing is preferable (because it is safer) but if that's not possible, you don't just stand there and wait to get stabbed.
And yes, this applies even outside the US – you just might have to improvise a means to defend yourself. Obviously, fleeing is preferable (because it is safer) but if that's not possible, you don't just stand there and wait to get stabbed.
More important than gun laws, is actually bringing the average intelligence of the country up. Without guns it still could've been rocks, anything else on hand, or a car.
Without guns, his chances of survival would have been greately higher.
And with common sense that chance would be even higher. Treat the cause, not the symptom.
This "its just a prank bro!" nonsense is what caused this. Removing guns isn't going to stop people from doing genuinely stupid fucking shit because "its just a prank bro, haha funny".
Wilks' chances of survival are irrelevant here. He played a stupid game and won a stupid prize.
Only the would-be victim's chances of survival matter in a potential assault confrontation.
And with common sense that chance would be even higher. Treat the cause, not the symptom.
This "its just a prank bro!" nonsense is what caused this. Removing guns isn't going to stop people from doing genuinely stupid fucking shit because "its just a prank bro, haha funny".
Wilks' chances of survival are irrelevant here. He played a stupid game and won a stupid prize.
Only the would-be victim's chances of survival matter in a potential assault confrontation.
You'd rather read about the tragedy of a guy getting stabbed with a butcher's knife instead.
Look, I'm in favor of better gun rules, too. However, the fact of the matter is that if you approach someone while brandishing a big knife, you're either A) gonna cause genuine panic and ruin someone's day, or B) face retaliation of some kind (either directly or by someone calling the cops on you). There's no good outcome to this.
The tragedy would have been avoided if Timothy had at least a double-digit IQ.
If someone pulls a deadly weapon on you, you have a natural right to defend yourself with proportional force (ie. lethal force) to neutralize the threat.
And yes, this applies even outside the US – you just might have to improvise a means to defend yourself. Obviously, fleeing is preferable (because it is safer) but if that's not possible, you don't just stand there and wait to get stabbed.
I'm also searching on YouTube specifically for his channel to see his stuff and what he was known for, and I can't even find it at all; all the results are about his death.
YouTube banned it.
I don't think that's the point.
Stupid prank videos have been a thing for a while (and by stupid, I mean poorly-thought-out and/or harmful). It doesn't matter if he was famous or not; he tried to follow that formula, did something even more stupid than the norm for these kinds of videos, and paid the price for it.
In other words, this was an avoidable tragedy. Mourn the loss of youth – something which is always sad to see taken away – and hope that people (namely young folks like him) learn from his mistake.
Also, this site is meant to document all kinds of internet phenomena; this guy was a YouTuber, thus it is relevant. And even it wasn't, my previous point still stands.
This tragedy would have been avoided if USA had a real gun legislation.
You make a silly prank, so it's normal to be shot? No! It's not normal!! The other guy shouldn't had a firearm in the first place!
You'd rather read about the tragedy of a guy getting stabbed with a butcher's knife instead.
Look, I'm in favor of better gun rules, too. However, the fact of the matter is that if you approach someone while brandishing a big knife, you're either A) gonna cause genuine panic and ruin someone's day, or B) face retaliation of some kind (either directly or by someone calling the cops on you). There's no good outcome to this.
The tragedy would have been avoided if Timothy had at least a double-digit IQ.
If someone pulls a deadly weapon on you, you have a natural right to defend yourself with proportional force (ie. lethal force) to neutralize the threat.
And yes, this applies even outside the US – you just might have to improvise a means to defend yourself. Obviously, fleeing is preferable (because it is safer) but if that's not possible, you don't just stand there and wait to get stabbed.
And yes, this applies even outside the US – you just might have to improvise a means to defend yourself. Obviously, fleeing is preferable (because it is safer) but if that's not possible, you don't just stand there and wait to get stabbed.
More important than gun laws, is actually bringing the average intelligence of the country up. Without guns it still could've been rocks, anything else on hand, or a car.
Without guns, his chances of survival would have been greately higher.
And with common sense that chance would be even higher. Treat the cause, not the symptom.
This "its just a prank bro!" nonsense is what caused this. Removing guns isn't going to stop people from doing genuinely stupid fucking shit because "its just a prank bro, haha funny".
Wilks' chances of survival are irrelevant here. He played a stupid game and won a stupid prize.
Only the would-be victim's chances of survival matter in a potential assault confrontation.
And with common sense that chance would be even higher. Treat the cause, not the symptom.
This "its just a prank bro!" nonsense is what caused this. Removing guns isn't going to stop people from doing genuinely stupid fucking shit because "its just a prank bro, haha funny".
Wilks' chances of survival are irrelevant here. He played a stupid game and won a stupid prize.
Only the would-be victim's chances of survival matter in a potential assault confrontation.
You'd rather read about the tragedy of a guy getting stabbed with a butcher's knife instead.
Look, I'm in favor of better gun rules, too. However, the fact of the matter is that if you approach someone while brandishing a big knife, you're either A) gonna cause genuine panic and ruin someone's day, or B) face retaliation of some kind (either directly or by someone calling the cops on you). There's no good outcome to this.
The tragedy would have been avoided if Timothy had at least a double-digit IQ.
If someone pulls a deadly weapon on you, you have a natural right to defend yourself with proportional force (ie. lethal force) to neutralize the threat.
And yes, this applies even outside the US – you just might have to improvise a means to defend yourself. Obviously, fleeing is preferable (because it is safer) but if that's not possible, you don't just stand there and wait to get stabbed.
And yes, this applies even outside the US – you just might have to improvise a means to defend yourself. Obviously, fleeing is preferable (because it is safer) but if that's not possible, you don't just stand there and wait to get stabbed.
"It was just a prank, bro!"
And by prank, you mean felony.
Because I'm pretty sure brandishing like that is a felony.
Ok, NRA supporter…
This tragedy would have been avoided if USA had a real gun legislation.
You make a silly prank, so it's normal to be shot? No! It's not normal!! The other guy shouldn't had a firearm in the first place!
You'd rather read about the tragedy of a guy getting stabbed with a butcher's knife instead.
Look, I'm in favor of better gun rules, too. However, the fact of the matter is that if you approach someone while brandishing a big knife, you're either A) gonna cause genuine panic and ruin someone's day, or B) face retaliation of some kind (either directly or by someone calling the cops on you). There's no good outcome to this.
The tragedy would have been avoided if Timothy had at least a double-digit IQ.
If someone pulls a deadly weapon on you, you have a natural right to defend yourself with proportional force (ie. lethal force) to neutralize the threat.
And yes, this applies even outside the US – you just might have to improvise a means to defend yourself. Obviously, fleeing is preferable (because it is safer) but if that's not possible, you don't just stand there and wait to get stabbed.
And yes, this applies even outside the US – you just might have to improvise a means to defend yourself. Obviously, fleeing is preferable (because it is safer) but if that's not possible, you don't just stand there and wait to get stabbed.
More important than gun laws, is actually bringing the average intelligence of the country up. Without guns it still could've been rocks, anything else on hand, or a car.
Without guns, his chances of survival would have been greately higher.
And with common sense that chance would be even higher. Treat the cause, not the symptom.
This "its just a prank bro!" nonsense is what caused this. Removing guns isn't going to stop people from doing genuinely stupid fucking shit because "its just a prank bro, haha funny".
Wilks' chances of survival are irrelevant here. He played a stupid game and won a stupid prize.
Only the would-be victim's chances of survival matter in a potential assault confrontation.
And with common sense that chance would be even higher. Treat the cause, not the symptom.
This "its just a prank bro!" nonsense is what caused this. Removing guns isn't going to stop people from doing genuinely stupid fucking shit because "its just a prank bro, haha funny".
Wilks' chances of survival are irrelevant here. He played a stupid game and won a stupid prize.
Only the would-be victim's chances of survival matter in a potential assault confrontation.
You'd rather read about the tragedy of a guy getting stabbed with a butcher's knife instead.
Look, I'm in favor of better gun rules, too. However, the fact of the matter is that if you approach someone while brandishing a big knife, you're either A) gonna cause genuine panic and ruin someone's day, or B) face retaliation of some kind (either directly or by someone calling the cops on you). There's no good outcome to this.
Oh yeah sure, let me run up to these people with a weapon drawn, at night, in a seedy looking area. Its gonna be so LIT bros.
The tragedy would have been avoided if Timothy had at least a double-digit IQ.
YouTube banned it.
If someone pulls a deadly weapon on you, you have a natural right to defend yourself with proportional force (ie. lethal force) to neutralize the threat.
And yes, this applies even outside the US – you just might have to improvise a means to defend yourself. Obviously, fleeing is preferable (because it is safer) but if that's not possible, you don't just stand there and wait to get stabbed.
And yes, this applies even outside the US – you just might have to improvise a means to defend yourself. Obviously, fleeing is preferable (because it is safer) but if that's not possible, you don't just stand there and wait to get stabbed.
More important than gun laws, is actually bringing the average intelligence of the country up. Without guns it still could've been rocks, anything else on hand, or a car.
Without guns, his chances of survival would have been greately higher.
And with common sense that chance would be even higher. Treat the cause, not the symptom.
This "its just a prank bro!" nonsense is what caused this. Removing guns isn't going to stop people from doing genuinely stupid fucking shit because "its just a prank bro, haha funny".
Wilks' chances of survival are irrelevant here. He played a stupid game and won a stupid prize.
Only the would-be victim's chances of survival matter in a potential assault confrontation.
And with common sense that chance would be even higher. Treat the cause, not the symptom.
This "its just a prank bro!" nonsense is what caused this. Removing guns isn't going to stop people from doing genuinely stupid fucking shit because "its just a prank bro, haha funny".
Wilks' chances of survival are irrelevant here. He played a stupid game and won a stupid prize.
Only the would-be victim's chances of survival matter in a potential assault confrontation.
And by prank, you mean felony.
Because I'm pretty sure brandishing like that is a felony.
They hated him for he told the truth.
Without guns, his chances of survival would have been greately higher.
And with common sense that chance would be even higher. Treat the cause, not the symptom.
This "its just a prank bro!" nonsense is what caused this. Removing guns isn't going to stop people from doing genuinely stupid fucking shit because "its just a prank bro, haha funny".
Wilks' chances of survival are irrelevant here. He played a stupid game and won a stupid prize.
Only the would-be victim's chances of survival matter in a potential assault confrontation.
And with common sense that chance would be even higher. Treat the cause, not the symptom.
This "its just a prank bro!" nonsense is what caused this. Removing guns isn't going to stop people from doing genuinely stupid fucking shit because "its just a prank bro, haha funny".
Wilks' chances of survival are irrelevant here. He played a stupid game and won a stupid prize.
Only the would-be victim's chances of survival matter in a potential assault confrontation.
Sorry, but you must activate your account to post a comment.