Walmart Removes "Kirk Shooter" T-Shirts Amid Public Outcry, LLC Ownership Questioned

Walmart has faced significant public backlash and subsequently removed certain T-shirts from its online marketplace after they became associated with the term "Kirk shooter" following the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk. The controversy intensified as a social media post identified an LLC, "Jacob Alexa HC," registered to a Pearland, Texas, home, as a seller of these shirts, listing several individuals as owners.

The shirts in question, featuring a patriotic design with an American flag, a bald eagle, and the phrase "Land of the free, home of the brave," gained notoriety after being worn by Tyler Robinson, the suspect in the September 10 shooting of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk. Online searches for "Kirk shooter" on Walmart's platform reportedly yielded these specific T-shirts, with some product descriptions allegedly including the controversial term. A Walmart spokesperson confirmed the company does not condone violence and stated, "We have taken action, and these products have been removed."

The tweet by Robert J Salvador highlighted the ownership of the LLC involved, stating, "Here are the people who own the LLC selling the @Walmart shooter shirts. LLC is registered to a home in Pearland Texas. Jacob Alexa HC. Tarin Gonzalez (primary resident, age ~45) Alex Gonzalez Grace M. Gonzalez Jacob A. Gonzalez Naomii L. Gonzalez Sasha A. Gonzalez." This public identification of the LLC and its associated individuals has drawn further scrutiny to the third-party vendor model utilized by large online retailers.

This incident is not an isolated one for Walmart, which has a history of facing criticism over controversial items sold by third-party vendors on its platform. Past controversies include T-shirts with pro-gun messages, designs hinting at violence against journalists, and items with white nationalist or Hamas leader imagery. While Walmart maintains policies prohibiting merchandise glorifying violence, the recurring issues underscore the challenges of monitoring vast online marketplaces. The company often removes such items once alerted, emphasizing its commitment to reviewing and updating its marketplace policies.