¶ Overview
- Three months after the tragic mass shooting in Uvalde Texas, Herrera joined a fellow YouTube creator to create a video in Uvalde. In this video, Herrera and the creator strapped an assault weapon to a robotic dog. The creators even went as far as to film the robotic dog walking in front of a Uvalde CISD school bus. Later in the video, Herrera joined in testing the robotic dog strapped with the assault weapon on cartoon cutouts of children. 19 elementary school students and two teachers were killed in a mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde Texas.
- Herrera’s gun content has attracted some disturbing followers. The suspect who killed two people and injured 17 at the Minneapolis church said their message was “sponsored” by “Brandon Herrera for president” and claimed they met Herrera at a gun show the previous year. The shooter also said they agreed with Herrera on “a lot of things.” Herrera said he was sickened by the attack and claimed he did not remember meeting the shooter. Additionally, the person who tried to assassinate Trump in 2024 wore a shirt associated with a content creator that Herrera had collaborated with.
- Herrera also celebrated the acquittal of Kyle Rittenhouse, who took an AR-15 style rifle to a 2020 protest in Kenosha, WI and shot three men, by drinking a cocktail Herrera called The Rittenhouse: a chaser, followed by three shots.
- One of Herrera’s key policy concerns was to eliminate the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the government agency tasked with investigating mass shooting events. In fact, the ATF helped handle the investigation following the Uvalde shooting.
¶ Herrera Downplayed The Severity Of Mass Shootings And Called To Disband The Department That Helps Investigates Them
¶ Three Months After The Uvalde School Shooting, Herrera Filmed A Video In Uvalde where he Shot Cartoon Cut Outs Of Children
¶ Herrera Appeared In A Video Titled “I Put A Gun On A Robot Dog” On The Account “I Did A Thing”
8/6/22: The Account “I Did A Thing” Posted A Video With Herrera Titled “I Put A Gun On A Robot Dog.”
[YouTube, I Did A Thing, 8/6/22]
¶ Herrera Joined “I Did A Thing” To Strap A Fully Automatic Submachine Gun To A Robot Dog To See If It Could Solve School Shootings In The United States
8/6/22: Herrera Appeared In A Video Filmed In Uvalde, Texas With An Australian Content Creator Who Strapped A MP5 Submachine Gun To A Robot Dog. According to My San Antonio, “Over the weekend, Australian content creator ‘I did a thing’ posted a video to YouTube where he attaches a fully automatic submachine gun to a robot dog to see if it could solve school shootings in the U.S. in light of the May 24 mass shooting in Uvalde. The video shows the YouTuber, Alex Apollonov, controlling the robot dog around Uvalde and stopping in front of a Uvalde CISD school bus. He says that he was in the U.S. when a gunman shot and killed 19 students and two teachers at Robb Elementary School. […] He says in this new video that he and others think strapping a gun to robot dog is a dumb idea, but then shows Fox News clips of Texas politicians like Sen. Ted Cruz and Attorney General Ken Paxton saying teachers and administrators should be armed. What follows is 16 minutes of Apollonov attempting multiple times to attach an MP5 submachine gun to the robot dog and testing the gun at some wooded Texas property with Brandon Herrera, who has a YouTube channel with 2.05 million subscribers showing off his extensive gun collection. Apollonov says Herrera lives ‘just down the road’ from Uvalde and ‘believes America needs more guns.’” [My San Antonio, 8/9/22]
¶ The Uvalde, Texas, School Shooting Was A Central Focus Of Herrera And The Australian Content Creator’s Video
8/6/22: The Video Showed Youtuber Alex Apollonov Controlling A Robot Dog Around Uvalde And Stopping In Front Of A Uvalde CISD School Bus. According to My San Antonio, “Over the weekend, Australian content creator ‘I did a thing’ posted a video to YouTube where he attaches a fully automatic submachine gun to a robot dog to see if it could solve school shootings in the U.S. in light of the May 24 mass shooting in Uvalde. The video shows the YouTuber, Alex Apollonov, controlling the robot dog around Uvalde and stopping in front of a Uvalde CISD school bus. He says that he was in the U.S. when a gunman shot and killed 19 students and two teachers at Robb Elementary School. […] What follows is 16 minutes of Apollonov attempting multiple times to attach an MP5 submachine gun to the robot dog and testing the gun at some wooded Texas property with Brandon Herrera, who has a YouTube channel with 2.05 million subscribers showing off his extensive gun collection.” [My San Antonio, 8/9/22]
¶ Herrera Tested The Robot Dog Strapped With An MP5 Submachine Gun On Cartoon Cutouts Of Children
8/6/22: Herrera And Content Creator Alex Apollonov Tested A Robotic Dog Strapped With An Assault Weapon By Using It To Fire Shots At Cartoon Cutouts Of Children. According to My San Antonio, “What follows is 16 minutes of Apollonov attempting multiple times to attach an MP5 submachine gun to the robot dog and testing the gun at some wooded Texas property with Brandon Herrera, who has a YouTube channel with 2.05 million subscribers showing off his extensive gun collection. Apollonov says Herrera lives ‘just down the road’ from Uvalde and ‘believes America needs more guns.’ […] Apollonov tests the gun-strapped robot on cardboard cartoon cutouts of kids, an elderly man, and what appears to be a teen with a messenger bag. The goal is to not hit the children cutouts. The robot dog handles most of the single shots from the gun, but becomes more inaccurate when firing off fully automatic bursts — at one point knocking the robot dog off its feet.” [My San Antonio, 8/9/22]
8/6/22: Herrera Joined A Content Creator To Test The Robot Dog Strapped With An Assault Weapon On Cartoon Cutouts Of Children.
[YouTube, I Did A Thing, 8/6/22] (video)
- The Robotic Dog Herrera And Content Creator Alex Apollonov Used In The Video Shot A Cartoon Cutout Of A Child In The Face. [YouTube, I Did A Thing, 8/6/22] (video)
¶ May 2022: 19 Elementary School Students And Two Teachers Were Murdered In A School Shooting In Uvalde, Texas
5/24/22: Nineteen Fourth Graders And Two Teachers Were Killed In Their Classroom At Robb Elementary School In Ulvade, TX. According to PBS News, “Nineteen fourth-graders and two teachers were killed on May 24, 2022, when a teenage gunman burst into their classroom at Robb Elementary School and began shooting. The lawsuit is the latest of several seeking accountability for the law enforcement response. More than 370 federal, state and local officers converged on the scene, but they waited more than 70 minutes before confronting the shooter.” [PBS News, 5/22/24]
- The Uvalde Coroner Said The Shooting Was “Something You Never Want To See And It's Something You Don't, You Cannot, Prepare For. It's A Picture That's Going To Stay In My Head Forever, And That's Where I'd Like For It To Stay.” According to NPR, “Eulalio ‘Lalo’ Diaz, Jr. isn't always on call, but it was his turn to be at the helm as Uvalde's Justice of the Peace on the day a gunman massacred 19 children and two teachers at Robb Elementary School in the deadliest school shooting in state history. The county is so small that the justice on call also acts as Uvalde's de facto coroner. He doesn't expect he'll ever be the same. […] Diaz did not describe the scene in detail. Instead, he said, ‘It's something you never want to see and it's something you don't, you cannot, prepare for. It's a picture that's going to stay in my head forever, and that's where I'd like for it to stay.’ He says he has no intention of ever sharing exactly what he saw.” [NPR, 5/31/22]
HEADLINE: "'I Played Dead': Boy Who Survived TX School Shooting Recalls Gunman Saying 'You're All Gonna Die'" [ABC 30, 5/27/22]
¶ Herrera Appeared In The Video Three Months After The Uvalde Shooting
¶ The Shooting At Robb Elementary School In Uvalde Texas Took Place On May 24, 2022
5/24/22: Robb Elementary School In Uvalde Texas Was The Deadliest Mass Shooting To Have Occurred In 10 Years. According to New York Times, “On May 24, an 18-year-old gunman wielding an AR-15-style rifle killed 19 children and two teachers at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, a small city west of San Antonio. It was the deadliest school shooting since 20 children and six adults were killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut in 2012.” [New York Times, 8/25/22]
¶ 2023: Herrera, Who Was Running To Represent Uvalde, Texas, Faced Criticism After Posting A Photo With An Assault Rifle On Christmas One Year And Seven Months After The Uvalde School Shooting
12/25/23: Herrera, Who Was Running To Represent Uvalde, Texas, Faced Criticism After Posting A Photo With An Assault Rifle On Christmas One Year And Seven Months The Uvalde School Shooting. According to Newsweek, “A Republican hoping to represent a U.S. House district that includes Uvalde, Texas, is facing backlash after sharing an image of himself posing with an assault rifle on Christmas. Brandon Herrera, who is challenging incumbent Republican Congressman Tony Gonzalez in next year's GOP primary, on Monday shared an image of himself wearing a holiday-themed sweater while standing in front of a Christmas tree and holding a large assault rifle to X, formerly Twitter. Herrera, the owner of a popular YouTube account and a firearms manufacturing company, wrote ‘Merry Christmas from my family to yours’ while sharing the image, wishing his followers ‘a safe one with family and friends.’ The picture quickly sparked outrage from those who pointed out that 21 people, including 19 children, were killed with an assault rifle in the May 2022 mass shooting at Uvalde's Robb Elementary School.” [Newsweek, 12/25/23]
- 12/25/23: Brandon Herrera Posted A Photo With An Assault Weapon In Front Of A Christmas Tree. According to Brandon Herrera’s Twitter, “Merry Christmas from my family to yours! I hope you have a safe one with family and friends. Extra style points thanks to @retrorifle”
[Twitter, @theAKGuy, 12/25/23]
¶ a shooting suspect mentioned herrera as their inspiration and the person who tried to assassinate trump wore a shirt from a youtube channel herrera was associated with
¶ The Individual Who Killed Two People And Injured 17 At A Minneapolis Church Suggested Brandon Herrera Was Their Inspiration
The Individual Who Killed Two People And Injured 17 At A Minneapolis Church, Said Their Message Was Sponsored By “Brandon Herrera For President.” According to Texas Tribune, “A person who appears to be the shooter who killed two and injured 17 at a Minneapolis church Wednesday praise Texas congressional candidate and gun activist Brandon Herrera in a video posted before the shooting. The shooter, identified by law enforcement as Robin Westman, 23, opened fire during a children's Mass at Annunciation Catholic School. In a since-deleted video posted to YouTube, a person believed to be Westman films their arsenal of weapons and ammunition, along with a written manifesto, and says the message is 'sponsored' by 'Brandon Herrera for president,' before saying they met Herrera at SHOT Show last year.” [Texas Tribune, 8/27/25]
- Herrera Said He Was Sickened By The Attack At A Minneapolis Church And Claimed He Did Not Remember Meeting The Shooter. According to Brandon Herrera’s Twitter, “I'm still physically sickened and angry about this clearly hate motivated attack on innocent children, and disgusted that my name came out of this demon's mouth. I meet thousands of people every year at SHOT Show in Las Vegas in meet-and-greets and such, but I don’t remember this individual at all, nor does anyone I was there with. That being said, I’m happy to answer any questions from Law Enforcement if it would be helpful. I’m also coordinating with friends in law enforcement to see how my community and I can best support those families affected by this hateful and senseless act.”
[Twitter, @theAKGuy, 8/27/25]
The Minneapolis Church Shooter Said They Agreed With Herrera On “A Lot Of Things.” According to San Antonio Express News, “And two weeks ago, Herrera’s political views were thrust into the national spotlight after it was revealed that the alleged perpetrator of a Minneapolis church shooting apparently praised him. In a video manifesto posted on the shooter’s YouTube channel the day of the massacre, the person filming spoke about meeting Herrera at a Las Vegas gun show last year. ‘We agreed on a lot of things,’ the narrator said in the video. ‘Y’all should vote for Brandon Herrera for president.’" [San Antonio Express News, 9/12/24]
HEADLINE: "Minneapolis Gunman Appears To Promote 'Brandon Herrera For President' In Video Posted Before Shooting " [Texas Tribune, 8/27/25]
¶ The Person Who Tried To Assassinate Trump Wore A Shirt Associated With A YouTube Channel Herrera Collaborated With
Thomas Crooks, Who Tried To Assassinate Trump, Wore A Demolition Ranch Shirt When He Shot Trump. According to San Antonio Express News, “The suspected shooter at former President Donald Trump's rally was wearing a T-shirt advertising ‘Demolition Ranch,’ a popular gun-themed YouTube channel with San Antonio-area ties, as he fired his weapon Saturday. Images posted to social media by rally attendees after the shooting show 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks wearing the YouTube channel’s short-sleeved gray ‘Demolitia’ shirt. The term is a combination of the words ‘demolition’ and ‘militia.’ The Secret Service said its agents killed Crooks after he allegedly fired several shots at Trump during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. The images show armed agents standing over the body. The logo on the sleeve of the shirt and some letters of the YouTuber’s ‘Demolitia’ logo are visible.” [San Antonio Express News, 7/15/24]
¶ Herrera Created YouTube Content With Demolition Ranch
December 2023: Herrera Posted A Range Day Event With Demolition Ranch.
[YouTube, Brandon Herrera, 12/14/23]
July 2020: Herrera Posted A Video Captioned “This Episode Of Gun Meme Review, Kentucky Ballistics VS Demolition Ranch, Who Is The King Of The .500 Magnums?”
[YouTube, Brandon Herrera, 7/17/20] (video)
October 2019: Herrera Posted A Video Titled “YouTuber Showdown - Demo Ranch, Donut Operator, AK Guy, and MORE!”
[YouTube, Brandon Herrera, 10/14/19] (video)
¶ Herrera celebrated the acquittal of kyle rittenhouse who shot three people
Herrera Celebrated The Acquittal Of Kyle Rittenhouse And Dubbed A Cocktail “The Rittenhouse,” A Chaser, Followed By Three Shots. According to a column from Gilbert Garcia of San Antonio Express News, “A month ago, Brandon Herrera committed to make an appearance on the Express-News’ ‘Puro Politics’ podcast. Herrera, a gun manufacturer and YouTube star, is locked in a Republican congressional primary runoff with incumbent Tony Gonzales. Given that Gonzales recently guested on the podcast, we wanted to give Herrera a chance to answer some of his opponents’ criticisms and make the case for his candidacy. Last Sunday night, the night before Herrera’s scheduled podcast visit, his campaign manager informed me that he was backing out. […] This is someone who celebrated the acquittal of Kyle Rittenhouse — a teenager who took his AR-15-style rifle to a 2020 street protest in Kenosha, Wis., and shot three men — by drinking a cocktail that Herrera dubbed The Rittenhouse: a chaser, followed by three shots.” [Column – Gilbert Garcia, San Antonio Express-News, 4/12/24]
¶ Herrera Called To Eliminate The ATF, Which Helps Investigates Mass Shootings
Herrera Said If Were Considered For Director Of The ATF, He Would Cripple The Agency And Eventually Ask Trump To Disband It Entirely. According to Brandon Herrera’s Twitter, “If I were to be considered for Director of the ATF, in my first 100 days I have a plan to hack, slash, and cripple that agency in ways it could never recover from. And when I’m done, I will ask President Trump to disband the agency entirely.”
[Twitter, @brandonherrera, 11/11/24]
2024: Herrera Hinted He Would Like To Lead The Bureau Of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms And Explosives Under President Donald Trump’s Second Term. According to San Antonio Express News, “YouTuber, gun rights activist and former Congressional candidate Brandon Herrera, otherwise known as San Antonio's ‘AK-Guy,’ is vying to lead the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives under President-elect Donald Trump. In May, Herrera narrowly lost to U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales in the GOP runoff election by 400 votes. The political hopeful is now gunning for another position. Last week, Herrera hinted at his desire to be appointed Trump's ATF director. ‘If the Trump administration decided to ask me to become the Director of the ATF, I would gladly accept and help make America great again,’ he wrote in a Nov. 9 social media post. […] However, Herrera announced he's got a few big changes coming for the ATF if he's appointed its director. ‘If I were to be considered for Director of the ATF, in my first 100 days I have a plan to hack, slash, and cripple that agency in ways it could never recover from,’ he wrote Monday. ‘And when I’m done, I will ask President Trump to disband the agency entirely.’” [San Antonio Express News, 11/16/24]
- Trump Picked Daniel P. Driscoll As The Acting Director Of The Bureau Of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms And Explosives (ATF). According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) website, “Daniel P. Driscoll is the Acting Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), following his appointment by President Donald J. Trump.” [ATF, Viewed 3/11/26]
If Appointed, Herrera Promised To Gut And Eventually Disband The Bureau Of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms And Explosives. According to San Antonio Express News, “YouTuber, gun rights activist and former Congressional candidate Brandon Herrera, otherwise known as San Antonio's ‘AK-Guy,’ is vying to lead the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives under President-elect Donald Trump. In May, Herrera narrowly lost to U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales in the GOP runoff election by 400 votes. The political hopeful is now gunning for another position. Last week, Herrera hinted at his desire to be appointed Trump's ATF director. ‘If the Trump administration decided to ask me to become the Director of the ATF, I would gladly accept and help make America great again,’ he wrote in a Nov. 9 social media post. […] However, Herrera announced he's got a few big changes coming for the ATF if he's appointed its director. ‘If I were to be considered for Director of the ATF, in my first 100 days I have a plan to hack, slash, and cripple that agency in ways it could never recover from,’ he wrote Monday. ‘And when I’m done, I will ask President Trump to disband the agency entirely.’” [San Antonio Express News, 11/16/24]
June 2023: Herrera Spoke On A Panel In Support Of A Rep. Matt Gaetz Bill That Would Abolish The Bureau Of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms And Explosives. According to 5 WKRG, “H.R. 374 reads as follows ‘To abolish the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Mr. Gaetz introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. A BILL- To abolish the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled.’ […] No word on when the Holman Rule letter or House Bill 374 will be back on the house floor. The next full meeting for the Committee of the Judiciary has not been set. The following was on the panel for the June 26 Field Hearing. […] * Brandon Herrera, YouTuber, and Firearms Expert” [5 WKRG, 6/26/23]
¶ The Bureau Of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms And Explosives (ATF) Helps Investigates Mass Shooting Events
The Bureau Of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms And Explosives (ATF) Investigates Violent Crimes Driven By The Illegal Use Of Firearms, Explosives, And Acts Of Arson. According to The ATF’s website, “ATF protects America’s communities by confronting violent crime driven by the illegal use of firearms, explosives, and acts of arson. Our special agents concentrate on identifying and dismantling illegal firearms traffickers who fuel violence by arming prohibited persons, gang members, drug cartels, illegal aliens, and terrorist organizations. Through advanced Crime Gun Intelligence (NIBIN, firearms tracing, and touch DNA); ATF partners with state and local law enforcement to investigate, identify, and prosecute violent offenders. At the same time, we safeguard lawful commerce and uphold the Constitution of the United States.” [ATF.gov, Viewed 3/13/26]
2026: The ATF Responded To The Shooting At Annunciation Catholic Church. According to Fox News, “Brian O'Hara, Minneapolis Police Chief, confirms 2 children, aged 8 and 10, died in Annunciation Catholic Church shooting as they sat in pews. […] ATF agents from the St. Paul Office responded to the active shooter situation at Annunciation Church” [Fox News, 1/13/26]
The ATF Investigated The Robb Elementary Shooting In Uvalde. According to Houston Public Media, “The Texas Department of Public Safety reported that 19 students and two adults were dead following a shooting on Tuesday at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. The suspect was also dead. […] The Justice Department said Tuesday night that FBI and ATF agents were part of the investigation.” [Houston Public Media, 5/25/22]
HEADLINE: "How The ATF Identified The Trump Rally Shooter In 30 Minutes" [ABC 7, 7/17/24]
The ATF Used Their Resources To Identify The Peron Who Attempted To Assassinate Trump. According to ABC 7, “Within 30 minutes of the shooting at Donald Trump's Pennsylvania rally on Saturday, federal law enforcement used a byzantine paper records system to track down decade-old gun sales records to help identify the 20-year-old would-be assassin. Law enforcement agents initially ran into roadblocks as they attempted to name the shooter, later identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks. Crooks was not carrying any ID when he was shot by Secret Service agents. But what he did have was an AR-style rifle used to carry out the deadly shooting. ATF analysts at a facility in West Virginia search through millions of documents by hand every day to try to identify the provenance of guns used in crimes. Typically, the bureau takes around eight days to track a weapon, though for urgent traces that average falls to 24 hours.” [ABC 7, 7/17/24]