Trump shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks wore merchandise from a popular influencer during the attack: “Shocked and confused”

A well-known gun industry influencer has said he was “shocked and confused” to discover that Thomas Matthew Crooks, who attempted to assassinate Donald Trump, was wearing one of his branded T-shirts at the time of the shooting. Crooks, 20, was killed by Secret Service snipers after opening fire, wounding Trump and two other people and killing a firefighter at a rally in Pennsylvania.

“That was really bad to see. That was hard,” influencer Matt Carriker said in a video posted on YouTube about Crooks wearing the T-shirt.

“We do not check the people who buy our jerseys”

On the day of the shooting, Crooks was reportedly wearing a gray T-shirt with an American flag on the sleeve and the word “Demolitia” stretched across the chest and back. The T-shirt matched merchandise Carriker sold through his online channel Demolition Ranch.

“As many of you know – and we were shocked and confused to find this out – the shooter who tried to assassinate Trump was wearing merchandise from my channel, namely a Demolition Ranch t-shirt,” Carriker said.

“We don’t screen the people who buy our shirts… I wish I could,” Carriker added. “I would like to prevent such people from buying, wearing or being associated with this garment.”

Carriker, a Texas veterinarian, runs two firearms channels. “I wish he hadn’t gotten a shirt, but it happened,” he said.

“I think the difference between a shooter wearing Nike shoes and a shooter wearing my T-shirt is that this brand is much more personal to me than Nike is to its executives,” Carriker added. “Seeing my name next to the shooter’s name – I wish we could stop that.”

Carriker further said that the media and other parties had called him and asked if he knew Crooks, but he clarified that Crooks was merely a fan who had purchased a T-shirt from his online store.

Voter records show that Crooks was a registered Republican. His motive remains unclear.