A 20-year-old man who tried to "prank" an unsuspecting man by charging at him with a butcher knife was shot dead on Friday night, law enforcement announced.
Timothy Wilks died in the Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park parking lot, a statement by Metropolitan Nashville Police Department said.
A statement on Saturday said that officers responded at around 9:25 pm, local time, where they found 23-year old David Starnes Jr, who admitted to shooting Wilks after the latter appeared to attack him with a knife.
The 20-year old Youtuber and an unnamed friend were in the process of making a video in which they carry out fake attacks against strangers.
"Detectives were told that Wilks and a friend were participating in a “prank” robbery as part of a YouTube video and approached a group of people, including Starnes, with butcher knives", the announcement read.
Starnes told detectives that he was unaware that the knife attack was a prank, and shot Wilks in what he claims was self-defence.
Police are investigating and no charges have been made against Starnes or against Wilks' unnamed friend.
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
According to the state of Tennessee's code on self-defence, there is "no duty to retreat before using deadly force, as long as you are acting lawfully and are in a place you have a right to be in."
The stand your ground law in Tennessee permits people to use deadly force in self-defense if they feel they are in immediate danger of serious harm or death.
