A YouTuber from Virginia has claimed that he sustained gunshot wounds after he tried to prank a man at a local mall.
YouTuber Tanner Cook - whose account has 41,000 subscribers - regularly posts videos of himself pranking strangers for the channel Classified Goons.
Previous clips have shown him accusing people of stealing, taking customers' groceries, going behind the counter at a fast-food restaurant, and pretending to vomit on Uber drivers. In some cases, his victims became agitated and even called the cops.
On Sunday (April 2), Cook's prank took an almost deadly turn after a man allegedly pulled out a semi-automatic pistol and shot him after he and his friends played a practical joke near the Cheesecake Factory in Dulles Town Center Mall's food court.
Investigators allege that the man - identified as 31-year-old Alan Colie - shot the 21-year-old in the stomach and liver. Cook survived the injury and had to undergo surgery after medics brought him to a hospital in critical condition.
Speaking to WUSA from his hospital bed, the YouTuber said: "I was playing a prank and a simple practical joke, and this guy didn't take it very well," adding, "He didn't say anything to me."
According to the outlet, Cook's friend was filming the prank. His family has said that the footage is included in the evidence for the police.
His father, Jeramy Cook, spoke about the devastating incident, telling the news station: "They were making a video at the mall and trying to have fun with people and this guy wasn't having fun. There was a phone that was around him and they were interviewing or talking to him, and he didn't like it and he pulled out his gun and shot my son."
"We need restoration, we need healing, and we need to come together," Jeramy continued. "I pray for this young man and pray that he finds God in this. I believe that God saved our son's life, and he could have easily died but that's not the outcome. God has plans for my son."
His grandfather, Mike Cook, also shared his thoughts and revealed that the family refuses to be afraid: "It's obviously been unnerving and some fear running in and out, but we live on faith and not fear."
Per People, police have disclosed that the suspect was arrested and charged with "aggravated malicious wounding, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and discharging a firearm within a building," adding, "The shooting resulted from an interaction between the victim and Colie in the food court."
Colie is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday (April 5). He has been assigned a public defender.
Despite his injuries, the YouTuber told WUSA that he intends to continue making prank videos.
