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Crime

Man Behind One of YouTube’s Most Popular Gun Channels Found Shot in the Head

Jan. 9, 2013 11:55am Erica Ritz

Keith Ratliff With FPS Industries, Top YouTube Gun Channel, Found Shot in the Head

(Photo: Twitter/Keith Ratliff)

A man who helped orchestrate one of YouTube’s top ten channels was found dead Thursday from a bullet wound to the head, according to news reports.

The YouTube channel, called FPS Russia, is almost entirely devoted to different sorts of weaponry, particularly guns.

32-year-old Keith Ratliff was inside his office building at FPS Industries when killed, according to Fox 5, and authorities are treating the death as a homicide.

Levi Fox, a neighbor of Ratliff’s, said he couldn’t believe the news. He described the popular YouTube channel, which has more than half a billion views: “He just takes really big guns and blows stuff up with them…shoots them and introduces a lot of people to new types of guns.”

Ratliff didn’t often appear in the videos, doing more of the “behind the scenes” work, but would occasionally drop in to lend his expertise.

The official FPS Facebook page posted this message after the news was released:

(Photo: Facebook/FPS Russia)

Ratliff’s wife Amanda mourns the loss of her husband– knowing that their two-year-old son will grow up without his father– but is also determined to discover the truth.

LEX 18 has more on the family’s efforts to get to the bottom of the tragedy:

“You know, it just doesn’t really add up,” Amanda says.

“It seems that the way the whole thing unfolded, there was no forced entry and things like that,” says Kelly Ratliff, Keith’s brother.

What happened leaves Kelly asking two big questions:

“Who and why? For a person to take somebody else’s life, I mean why?”

Investigators told a Georgia newspaper Ratliff was shot once in the head, and had been dead for some time when he was found.

Kelly Ratliff says his brother always carried a gun to protect himself:

“For him not to pull out that gun and try to defend himself, he had to feel comfortable around somebody. Either that or he was ambushed.”

Keith’s family says they won’t stop pressuring investigators to figure out what happened.

“We all want to know and we all want justice to be done,” Amanda says. “He had way to much to look forward to in his life.”

Ratliff’s LinkedIn account describes his role with FPS Industries: “I provide firearms industry related information and details related to the marketing and viral marketing content produced by FPS Industries.”

Here is Fox 5′s entire news report:

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Comments (105)

pushinginto
Posted on January 9, 2013 at 1:06pm
I’m not a FPSRussia fan. Hopefully that channel gets taken off YouTube. In some countries the hammer and sickle symbol is banned under the law, and rightly so. It is disgusting what this channel is doing.

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- RDW
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 8:21pm
  The whole “Russian” thing is a joke. It’s a play off the internet meme that Russians do stupid stuff and “In Soviet Russian [insert something here] does [insert action here] to you”
  The main character on FPSRussia is Dmitri Potapoff who is played by Kyle Myers. Kyle is not Russian and does not talk like the character in real life. The original idea from the show came from wanting to show real life weapons and capabilities and how that compared to the fallacies or realities of how they were portrayed in video games and movies.
  
  Report this comment
- GoodStuff
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 9:47pm
  “The whole “Russian” thing is a joke.”
  
  The hammer and sickle is not a joke. It’s a dumb image to use for your youtube channel.
  
  Report this comment
- Ken
  Posted on January 11, 2013 at 12:03am
  You must be a liberal. Only a liberal would advocate to eliminating something he doesn’t like rather than simply not watching. What a shame you socialists have practically taken over America.
  
  Report this comment
- AtLeastIResearch
  Posted on January 11, 2013 at 12:15pm
  Ken, is that anything like the right wingers calling for the assassination of the President, taking up arms and overthrowing the government or ‘taking our guns and having an armed revolution’.
  
  Anything like that Ken? Might want to cut down on the hypocrite statements unless you can also include your own deranged conservatives who are scared Hitler is coming back.
  
  Report this comment
term limits for congress
Posted on January 9, 2013 at 1:05pm
I was going to make a comment about Hillary and her upcoming Benghazi testimony, but,… better not.

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- nichevo
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 1:14pm
  You made the right choice TLFC. Its unfortunate that a lot of the Blazers do not think before they post comments. It’s an embarrasment to say the least!
  
  Report this comment
- charles116
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 2:23pm
  How does that even relate to this issue?
  I think he was done in bu one too many chick-fil-a’s.
  
  Report this comment
- OhioRifleman
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 3:02pm
  @ Charles
  
  It’s pretty obvious you didn’t read the story. I’m also going to wager that you’re not thinking, either.
  
  Report this comment
Nevermind
Posted on January 9, 2013 at 1:04pm
Wait, i thought things liek this didnt happen if you had a conceal or open carry permit? That sis what you folks always claim, that guns keep you safe. This was in a state that allowed concealed carry and he had a weapon on him yet died. So much for guns keeping you safe.

I am not anti gun, i am anti stupidity. I actually served in the military and was in war so i have no issue with firearms , just the flase narrative of the NRA

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- Lord_Frostwind
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 1:25pm
  You’re putting words in people’s mouth that concealed carry will automatically make you safe. You can never protect against something that catches you unaware, someone the with military should know that. Concealed carry weapons make a whole lot of difference, but if someone wants to kill you, then you better hope you’ve got luck and see them coming.
  
  As for the crime, I want to wait for details about this crime. Still, with everything going on at the moment, something like this does come at a very interesting time, let’s hope it is just a coincidence.
  
  Report this comment
- Uechi
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 1:26pm
  You are a moron. Carrying a firearm does not make you immune from being assaulted or murdered any more then having a fire extinguisher in your house guarantees it won’t burn to the ground. All guns or fire extinguishers can do is increase your odds for prevention or survival. If you had a brain in your head you would know that you get no iron clad assurances in life on any subject including your safety.
  
  Report this comment
- 00100111
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 1:31pm
  Kinda hard to fight back when you’re assassinated, dolt.
  
  Report this comment
- Gavinwcaf
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 1:59pm
  What the Iranian military.
  
  Report this comment
- fixmfast
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 3:52pm
  You say you served in the military, well the Cub Scouts don’t really count as military. And beating up the Girl Scouts and taking their cookies isn’t really a war.
  
  Report this comment
- OKC08GT500
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 3:54pm
  If you really did serve in the military, we used to call your kind ten percenters. My guess is that you were a REMF.
  
  Report this comment
- NITERUNNER
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 6:20pm
  really? NRA false agenda?How about the media’s false agenda on EVERYTHING!?
  
  Report this comment
- GoodStuff
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 9:51pm
  @Nevermind
  
  “Wait, i thought things liek this didnt happen if you had a conceal or open carry permit?”
  
  Having a gun doesn’t eliminate the the possibility of being killed by a thug, it reduces your chances of being killed by a thug.
  
  Wearing a seatbelt doesn’t eliminate the possibility that you will die in a car accident, but it does reduce the chance you’ll die in a car accident.
  
  Is this really hard to understand? NRA narrative? And what is that? That humans have a basic right to self-preservation? Oh, what a horrible narrative. And you served in the military? Good grief, you should know better.
  
  Report this comment
- GuruMeditation
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 10:18pm
  @Nevermind: No one that thinks before they speak, which includes the NRA, makes such a blanket statement. Except maybe you and a few other morons.
  
  Report this comment
- Wisdom7
  Posted on January 10, 2013 at 12:36am
  There was no forced entry. He was shot once in the head. He did not have his weapon out. Therefore, he either knew the attacker or had no idea they were there. I would say it is most likely he knew the attacker.
  
  Report this comment
- Ken
  Posted on January 11, 2013 at 12:06am
  Guns do indeed keep us safe. Do the research and don’t buy into what the media is feeding you. The local news on this incident mentions he either knew the guy or was ambushed. Otherwise he would have been able to protect himself. Have you considered moving to Cuba? I hear the weather is great there this time of year.
  
  Report this comment
Scaz
Posted on January 9, 2013 at 1:04pm
Sounds like political assassination to me. This country is so lost.

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- booger71
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 1:08pm
  Or a liberal loon thinking he/she was saving America.
  
  Report this comment
- 00100111
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 1:33pm
  Assassination is what came to my mind as well.
  
  Report this comment
- steelpanther
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 1:44pm
  Wonder if it was one of the whacked out liberal left out to make a point.
  
  It really wouldn’t be that hard to get someone packing if he was the soul target. Just walk up to him from behind…. or just walk up to him and start a conversation, wait till he turns around for something, or just flat out be fast on the draw, hell, set down at a desk wouldn’t see it being pulled out before it was to late.
  
  People are inherently trusting, with out any suspicious activity, he would not have been on guard even with a stranger. Even if they where raging anti-gun, unless they where acting violently, he wouldn’t have touched his weapon. In other words, you have to see it coming to react to it.
  
  Report this comment
- TeslanEdison
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 9:17pm
  Definitely assassination, however there are some very unsavory types in the Arms trade business, and failure to buy from them or get them something they requested could end this way. Even just refusing to do business with them could end this way. His surveillance at the shop should have everything they need for evidence of a murder, however as a likely hit the hit person was probably obscured or somewhat disguised.
  
  Report this comment
ranepowel
Posted on January 9, 2013 at 1:00pm
Well, this is what happens when you play with fire(arms). Brought it on himself.

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- booger71
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 1:10pm
  Police have already ruled murder, not suicide. It looks to be a professional hit
  
  Report this comment
- 00100111
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 1:33pm
  If that’s true, I wish you would play with one. Remember, the hole points toward your head.
  
  Report this comment
- dissentnow
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 7:42pm
  @Rane
  You’re an idiot
  
  Report this comment
- GuruMeditation
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 10:21pm
  @ranepowel: Wake up bonehead… It can happen to anyone.
  
  Report this comment
- Ken
  Posted on January 11, 2013 at 12:09am
  “Well, this is what happens when you play with fire(arms). Brought it on himself.”
  
  Thank you for proving once again that liberals have little critical thinking skills and no common sense. Have you considered moving to Cuba? I hear that the weather there is beautiful this time of year.
  
  Report this comment
thibx
Posted on January 9, 2013 at 12:58pm
if they were hell bend on killing him it does not matter they used a gun. what you think strap on a sucide vest like the muslims or blow up his car like the mafia.

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ResistSocialism
Posted on January 9, 2013 at 12:46pm
Rewind the CCTV surveillance. He did have video surveillance right?

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SpankDaMonkey
Posted on January 9, 2013 at 12:45pm
.
The Democrats will stop at nothing to get their hands on our guns….

I still taking Bet’s when the killer is found, the shooter will be a Democrat……..

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- kickagrandma
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 1:01pm
  boxingame, pepsigirl,thinasareid, hijinxsharpton????? the list is endless.
  
  Report this comment
- smokie
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 2:33pm
  I was really surprised how often my democrat family and friends will tell me “You should just shoot them.” Whenever the pit bulls create a scene in my neighborhood. I had a family member say this about the dogs’ owner. There are certain people in the world that would resort to the gun first, true justice later. You just don’t go around shooting people. Sorry to say, the ones in my world that want violent gunplay are all liberals. I guess there’s no fun in peace, love, and understanding.
  
  Report this comment
SocialistSlayer
Posted on January 9, 2013 at 12:31pm
Looks like Communist obama might have had him whacked !

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Cavallo
Posted on January 9, 2013 at 12:27pm
Assassinated. Maybe he knew something the administration didn’t want him to know?

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Nevermind
Posted on January 9, 2013 at 12:21pm
Think_4_yourself

@nevermind, I guess you’ll die of stupidity on day then. How dare you make that statement, he was murdered, he has a family….your a jackass.
*****
I am sure you will go before I do. Yes he had a family and knowing that he shoudlve read some studies. You are almost 5 times more likely to die by a gun if you own one as opposed to those that do not. So knowing he had a family he put himself in 5 times more danger than a non gun owner.

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- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 12:34pm
  NEVERMIND, Do you really think that somebody tied him to a chair then shot him in the head because he owned guns?
  Oh, you’re spouting off from those statistics regarding most of the nation’s homicides by firearm are large metropolitan area gang related where the shooter had a gun as well as another gun was found on the supposed victim?
  Lies, Damned Lies, and Statistics.
  
  Report this comment
- BasketFullOfPuppies
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 12:39pm
  You’re not a jackass… just a simple little parrot. You really need to look up that statistic and the methodology that resulted in it. But, you probably wouldn’t understand it. You seem to be a simpleton. A simpleton parrot.
  
  Report this comment
- OUTLAW_WEALTH
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 12:39pm
  Not true.
  
  The fact that its mostly the criminal element that possesses guns these days, should give you a hint as to why ‘gun ownership’ is involved in death.
  
  It’s not ‘gun ownership’ which is to blame, it’s the crowd you hang with.
  
  Anyway, I’ll be glad to deprive you of your gun rights if you allow me to be the government official to decide which of you and your familye will be armed and which of you will not be.
  
  Report this comment
- oldguy49
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 12:41pm
  and by the way…….england doesn’t allow gun ownership but has 5 times the violet crime as america……….if you can’t protect you and yours the crooks will know
  
  Report this comment
- OUTLAW_WEALTH
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 12:44pm
  @nimrod4brains or nevermind or whatever you call yourself
  
  http://www.theblaze.com/stories/local-tv-anchor-delivers-blistering-fact-check-of-piers-morgans-anti-gun-claims/
  
  Read the above article and see where you go amiss with your analysis.
  
  Report this comment
- RaydocX
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 12:55pm
  we had better ban swimming pools, then, @neveramind…
  having one more than quintuples your chance of drowning.
  stupid statistics dredged up to support a biased point of view.
  i have friends who loved this channel.
  this victim had a family, who will miss him, as well as those who appreciated what he did.
  i hope his killer or killers are caught… first thought is someone wanted more exotic firearms then they could afford, but i agree, his apparent predicament suggests this was not a stranger issue.
  and it apparently was NOT his firearm that did the deed, so those whining that his firearms possession somehow brought it upon him can take a long walk on a short pier.
  
  Report this comment
- JEANNIEMAC
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 12:58pm
  where did you get your statistic?
  
  Report this comment
- coachsmac
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 1:09pm
  A non-gun owner is a victim 100% of the time when confronted by an aggressor. A gun owner might get killed by a gun but if they see the perp coming then I’m sure they will take their chances!! I know I would, That’s why I’m always armed, on the road, in church, at work, at home, in the mall, in the bank, any where I go!
  
  Report this comment
- subic
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 1:12pm
  NEVERMIND, you’re a simpering little troll aren’t you?
  
  Report this comment
- booger71
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 1:14pm
  Chance of getting killed by gun(yours or by someone else ) 1 in 1 million which happens to be the same chance as being struck by lightening.
  
  Report this comment
- Gavinwcaf
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 2:06pm
  Since there are three hundered millions privately owned firearms in this country, that is a no brainier. in a country of three hundred twenty million citizens. You are a math genus.
  
  Report this comment
- Wisdom7
  Posted on January 10, 2013 at 8:55am
  Where exactly did you get your statistic?
  
  Report this comment
lordjosh
Posted on January 9, 2013 at 12:20pm
I would be hiring a private investigating firm. I would trust gubmint corporation with this one.

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Metallicat
Posted on January 9, 2013 at 12:19pm
I’d like to hear from the gun industry if they feel they are being bullied by the Obama administration? Bank of America,a huge Obama donor,seems to be twisting arms of gun manufacturers who do business with them,I wonder if others are being bullied that we havent heard about? I’ve noticed some of the ones I watch seem to be limiting their advertisements to bolt action rifles and revolvers.

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Landon410
Posted on January 9, 2013 at 12:19pm
I’m subscribed to that youtube channel
“remember…. I am professional Russian…..”

and I agree with Darmok… we need to start the investigation with Morgan

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- mom4times
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 12:28pm
  so am I….just stunned…..no other words
  
  Report this comment
spfoam1
Posted on January 9, 2013 at 12:14pm
Nudge, shove, shoot………

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Apple Bite
Posted on January 9, 2013 at 12:14pm
Somebody have to of known him well enough to get away with it…

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Nevermind
Posted on January 9, 2013 at 12:13pm
Extremerightwing

He lived in kentucky, live by sword die by sword? This was a murder, nothing more, for you to pass judgement shows the callousness of your heart, how about, judge not, lest you be judged?!?
*******

You are judging what is in my heart so before you give advice practice what you preach. Dont get mad at me, i didnt come up with the quote. It is from the bible after all so be pissed at the writer of it.

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- spfoam1
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 12:29pm
  It is from the bible, but used out of context. Tell me, how many people did this man kill with his “sword”? I’ll answer that….ZERO. So why does he deserve to die? Is target practice somehow equal to murder in your eyes? You are disgusting.
  
  Report this comment
- 00100111
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 1:37pm
  Neverabrain obviously likes to take Biblical quotes out of context. I’d explain it to him, but his type doesn’t have the mental capacity to understand it. Don’t you have a welfare check to retrieve? Or shouldn’t you be occupying something?
  
  Report this comment
- GuruMeditation
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 10:23pm
  @Nevermind: You are indeed a tool.
  
  Report this comment
- Wisdom7
  Posted on January 11, 2013 at 10:50am
  Do you know what the sword of the Lord is?
  
  Report this comment
scrapadapolis
Posted on January 9, 2013 at 12:11pm
Obama did it.Slowly and mynolicaly using his kill list.Sooner or later Obama will be found out about.Just a feeling That man is very diabolical and using his power to kill.

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Extremerightwing
Posted on January 9, 2013 at 12:07pm
He lived in kentucky, live by sword die by sword? This was a murder, nothing more, for you to pass judgement shows the callousness of your heart, how about, judge not, lest you be judged?!?

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SpankDaMonkey
Posted on January 9, 2013 at 12:05pm
.
I’m taking Bet’s that it was a Democrat that killed him…..

Hope your family finds some peace…….

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ChiefGeorge
Posted on January 9, 2013 at 12:01pm
First prayers for the family then get answers and justice.

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banjarmon
Posted on January 9, 2013 at 12:00pm
My your family find Peace in GOD!

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AmericanStrega
Posted on January 9, 2013 at 12:00pm
What state was this man living in? If it was NYS was he one of the gun owners outed but the media?

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- thekuligs
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 12:06pm
  That was what I wanted to know!
  
  Report this comment
- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 12:16pm
  Just found another story about this. It said that he was tied to a chair then shot. He is from Frankfort, KY, but he was killed near Carnesville, Georgia. Naturally, the media that is reporting this is calling him a gun nut.
  
  Report this comment
Nevermind
Posted on January 9, 2013 at 11:59am
Those who live by the sword die by the sword

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- Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 12:03pm
  Quick, we need to ban swords.
  
  Report this comment
- CulperGang
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 12:06pm
  So does that mean that the gun and drug dealer Holder and obama will be next???
  Well, of course not THEY have taxpayers bought and paid for army personnel to protect them. They get a pass right?ass hat.
  
  Report this comment
- Think_4_yourself
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 12:12pm
  @nevermind, I guess you’ll die of stupidity on day then. How dare you make that statement, he was murdered, he has a family….your a jackass.
  
  Report this comment
- 00100111
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 1:39pm
  Apparently, Neverhadabrain also does not know how to use the REPLY button. What’s wrong? Haven’t figured out computers yet? I know libs are a bit slow on the learning curve, but come on. Even your kind can figure it out.
  
  Report this comment
- Vonstowne
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 5:04pm
  Excuse me but let us get REAL about the FIGHTING W/ the SWORD in the BIBLE. It is meaning with the WORD, THE TRUTH, GOD’s WORD, THE BIBLE. That is the SWORD. We can fight evil 1st by just showing the Ignorance behind what many of you are doing now by bringing out the Lies by so many who speak exaggerated facts in pursuing their own agendas. God warned us of these days that Rulers in Power would be Evil, and most important is to Know God’s Word to fight with his Truth 1st as your foundation.
  
  Report this comment
Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on January 9, 2013 at 11:59am
Where was Piers Morgan when this event happened? Just a theory to consider.

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- IndyGuy
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 12:03pm
  Ha…beat me to it…
  
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- booger71
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 1:17pm
  Piers did joke around on his show about getting Alex Jones killed
  
  Report this comment
- Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 1:52pm
  you are right, he joked about shooting him in the head.
  
  Report this comment
- GuruMeditation
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 10:25pm
  Piers would have missed.
  
  Report this comment
- IndyGuy
  Posted on January 10, 2013 at 9:56am
  Piers Morgan would pi$$ his pants just holding a gun…
  
  Report this comment

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