A YouTube prankster named Tanner Cook attempted to prank an unsuspecting shopper at a mall in Virginia. Cook, who has over 1.4 million subscribers on YouTube, approached a man with a fake spider in hand and pretended to drop it on the man’s back. In reality, Cook never dropped the spider, but the man believed that he had and proceeded to pull out a handgun and shoot Cook in the arm.

The incident was captured on camera by Cook’s friend, who was filming the prank for Cook’s YouTube channel. In the video, Cook can be heard laughing as he approaches the man and says, “Hey, man, you got a spider on your back.” The man quickly turns around, sees Cook holding the fake spider, and pulls out his gun. Cook can be heard saying, “Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa,” as the man pulls the trigger and shoots him.

After the shooting, Cook can be seen on the ground, clutching his arm and yelling in pain. His friend quickly drops the camera and runs over to help him. The man who shot Cook then begins to walk away, but is stopped by security personnel and eventually arrested by police.

Cook was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was treated for his injuries. He later posted a video on his YouTube channel, explaining what had happened and apologizing for the prank. Cook said that he had never intended to cause anyone harm and that he had learned a valuable lesson about the dangers of pranking people without their consent.

The incident sparked a debate about the ethics of YouTube pranks and the responsibility of content creators to ensure the safety of their subjects. Some argued that Cook had gone too far and that his prank had put the man’s life in danger. Others defended Cook, saying that his prank was harmless and that the man had overreacted by pulling out his gun.

The mall where the incident took place also released a statement, saying that they did not condone the use of firearms on their premises and that they were cooperating with the authorities to ensure that justice was served.

The incident involving Tanner Cook and the man at the Virginia mall highlights the dangers of YouTube pranks and the importance of consent and safety when creating content. While some may argue that the man overreacted by pulling out his gun, it is clear that Cook’s prank crossed a line and put his own life in danger. As content creators, it is important to think about the consequences of our actions and to prioritize the safety and well-being of others.