Police: Man shot, killed in Hermitage after 'prank robbery' for YouTube video went wrong

[ripcord]

Source: Tennessean

A man was shot and killed Friday night in the parking lot of a Hermitage business after a robbery "prank" for a YouTube channel went wrong, according to Metro Nashville police.

The homicide unit is investigating a claim of self-defense in the shooting, MNPD stated in a Saturday news release.

Timothy Wilks, 20, was shot and killed in the parking lot of Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park around 9:20 p.m. When officers arrived at the scene around five minutes later, 23-year-old David Starnes Jr. admitted to shooting Wilks.

Investigators were told that Wilks and a friend approached a group of people, including Starnes, with butcher knives while participating in a "prank" robbery for a YouTube video.

Starnes, who told officers he was unaware of the prank, said he shot Wilks in defense of himself and others, according to the release.

Read more: https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/crime/2021/02/06/man-killed-friday-night-hermitage-shooting-nashville/4419163001/

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What the hell?

[WA-03 Democrat]

1. Example #845,912,865 of why

“Platforms” are media companies. They are not tech companies. They make their money off of ads around mostly user generated content.

[Clash City Rocker]

2. Early contender for a Darwin Award

I assume they still do those.

[Talitha]

3. Stupid prank - but hey, maybe he died laughing...

[COL Mustard]

19. Play Stupid Games, Win Stupid Prizes

[magicarpet]

4. Kids looking for fun and fame but not thinking clearly.

Who was filming this for public exposure at YouTube ?

Wasn't powerful lighting in use for a clear and visible video shot ?

Did these two groups not know each other, they picked random strangers to "theatrically" accost ?

[Marie Marie]

5. The "Jackass" generation. I think that movie/show started this insanity.

Let's do really stupid shit, get hurt in the process, then video it and see how fast it goes viral. Sympathy to his family who now has to deal with this loss.

[Ferrets are Cool]

6. Yeah, and if they weren't allowed to "carry" a man would still be alive tonite.

Fuck this shit.

And yes, I HATE "pranks" like this one, but no one should have died because of it.

[Irish_Dem]

7. We live in the wild, Wild West.

Everyone packs heat.

[LisaL]

9. Which should be a good reason to not approach people and try to prank rob them.

NT

[Irish_Dem]

10. Exactly.

I am always aware that any one I interact with could be carrying a gun.
America is now a violent country.

[oldsoftie]

11. We're actually much less violent than 30 yrs ago with 80M more people.

About half as much violent crime as then.

[Rick Rolle]

14. It's the 24 hour news environment.

Fewer crimes, but the ones that are committed get instant, nationwide publication, so it SEEMS we're having more crime.

[oldsoftie]

18. Yep! That and we now have so many videos of people being violent

Where you used to hear about someone being attacked, now you get to SEE how brutal the crime was. Not that thats a BAD thing; those criminals SHOULD be seen for what they are
But so many of my friends are under the impression that everythings gone to hell

[Irish_Dem]

21. That is great.

[Turin_C3PO]

22. True.

People tend to remember the good things about the past and forget the bad.

[Polybius]

15. I'm torn on this one

I'm sad that he died but I can't blame the guy Starnes who shot him. He was approached by a two guys with butcher knives who he thought wanted to rob him. It wasn't a case of an itchy trigger finger, they actually stated that it was a robbery. This goes beyond any normal prank.

[LudwigPastorius]

8. I'm actually surprised this doesn't happen more often.

I mean, I can only assume that no one has capped this clown's ass because he's not in a carry state.

?t=4

[Polybius]

16. My guess is that many of these pranks are staged

It's just way too risky. Even if it's in a non-carry state, suppose it's an off-duty cop?

[BobTheSubgenius]

12. And now the pranking victim gets to carry this around for the rest of his life.

God-damned YouTube.

[Rick Rolle]

13. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.

Granddad used to say "stupidity is a self-correcting problem."

[3catwoman3]

17. As stupid goes, this ranks right up there...

...with the idiots who decide to test bullet proof vests by shooting themselves in the chest.

I feel sad for the parents of the young man who made such a dumb choice.

[jmowreader]

20. Who in fuck thinks armed robbery is a good subject for a prank?

YouTube needs to shut this prank shit down right now.