On April 2, 2023, a shooting incident occurred at Dulles Town Center in Sterling, Virginia, following a confrontation between a YouTube content creator and a delivery driver. The altercation resulted in a single gunshot, leading to panic among shoppers and a swift response from law enforcement.
Incident Overview
Tanner Cook, a 21-year-old YouTuber known for his “Classified Goons” prank channel, approached Alan Colie, a 31-year-old delivery driver, in the mall’s food court. Cook and his team were filming a prank involving playing phrases through a translation app. Colie, feeling harassed and threatened, asked Cook to stop multiple times. When Cook persisted, Colie drew a firearm and shot Cook once in the abdomen .
Immediate Response
The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office received reports of the shooting at approximately 11:57 a.m. Deputies arrived within minutes, provided medical assistance to Cook, and arrested Colie at the scene. The mall was evacuated and temporarily closed as a precaution .
Legal Proceedings
Colie was charged with aggravated malicious wounding, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and discharging a firearm within a building. He pleaded not guilty, asserting self-defense. In September 2023, a jury acquitted Colie of the most serious charge but convicted him of unlawful discharge of a firearm in an occupied building .
Community Impact
The incident sparked discussions about the boundaries of public pranks and self-defense rights. While some viewed Colie’s actions as an overreaction, others expressed concern over invasive prank content. The event underscored the importance of understanding personal boundaries and the potential consequences of public confrontations.NBC4 Washington
About Dulles Town Center
Dulles Town Center is a two-level enclosed shopping mall in Sterling, Virginia, encompassing 1.4 million square feet of retail space. Opened in 1999, it serves as a major shopping destination in Loudoun County .