Online Friend Recalls Disturbing Video Threatening Her Before Supermarket Shooting

This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

In 2016, a video posted by YouTuber Randy Stair prompted an online acquaintance to sever ties with him. Less than a year later, Stair carried out a deadly workplace shooting at a Pennsylvania supermarket, claiming the lives of three coworkers before taking his own.

The incident is explored in the Investigation Discovery (ID) true crime series "Deadly Influence: The Social Media Murders." The episode, titled "Enter the Ghost World," examines Stair's digital footprint, his intensifying fixations, and the warning signs that preceded the attack.

The Disturbing "A Promise Kept" Video

In April 2016, Stair uploaded a video titled "A Promise Kept." Several mutual friends described its content as containing graphic threats directed at Sammy, the online friend. In the video, Stair detailed his intentions to harm her. Sammy expressed bewilderment regarding the intensity of his animosity.

The video featured an animated "Teenage Girl Missing" poster displaying a drawing that bore a resemblance to Sammy. By the video's conclusion, Stair, depicted as the character Ember McLain from "Danny Phantom," was shown holding what appeared to be Sammy's severed head.

"You're gonna pay for what you did to me," Stair stated in the video. "Mark my words ... You're not safe. ... You were once a sweet little girl in my eyes. But that was very short-lived. Just like your very existence."

Sammy confirmed that this video solidified her decision to cut off all communication with Stair permanently.

"He would post very cryptic, indirect things on Twitter, but obviously you couldn't be completely sure," Sammy explained. "And I think we all wanted to keep an eye on him. We would block him and unblock him to look at his account. But after that video went up, that's when I blocked him for good and ceased all contact."

Evolution of an Online Persona

Stair launched his YouTube channel, PioneersProductions, around 2008 when he was approximately 15 years old. His initial content primarily consisted of sketch comedy and self-deprecating homemade short films. Sammy discovered the channel when she was about 12 and became a follower. When Stair was around 21, the two began communicating online.

"I think what drew me to his page was how his videos almost felt like home videos," Sammy recalled. "I grew up with brothers, so they also liked his videos and related to them. It made Randy relatable to me as a person, not just as a content creator."

"Our chats mainly started with us talking about his YouTube videos," Sammy continued. "But we both really liked music, and we shared a lot of common interests. I guess I viewed him almost like a big brother. We had a similar sense of humor. He was very friendly in the beginning."

As Stair's audience grew, he began uploading more personal videos, including behind-the-scenes footage and introspective reflections. The ID episode characterized Stair as an introvert who appeared uncomfortable when not actively filming.

"I think when it comes to YouTube or any type of edited media, you have multiple chances to get something right," Sammy observed. "If you don't like how something is turning out, you can redo it. I think that's what he liked. He didn't have to get things perfect. He could have a couple of takes to get things exactly how he wanted. I think that allowed him to express himself more easily than he could in the moment, in real life."

As Stair's filmmaking abilities progressed, his videos took an increasingly dark turn. The lighthearted sketch comedies and homemade spoofs that once populated his channel gradually faded, replaced by somber short films and bleak monologues.

Stair's channel had long featured recurring comedic sketches centered on a frog and a whale. In a video titled "Extinction Series Finale," these once-lighthearted characters met a violent end, with Stair depicted repeatedly stabbing them with a knife.

"It was very different from his content before," Sammy stated. "But he also seemed different as a person. He became more distant, tweeted less and became less active on social media. It almost wasn't the same person who was making those earlier videos."

Signs of Decline and a Disturbing Fixation

Sammy recalled a period when Stair described what could be identified as suicidal ideation to her. However, at the time, he claimed he would never act on such thoughts. Despite their frequent social media interactions, when these sensitive topics arose, he would either deflect or try to assure them that he would never engage in self-harm.

Over several months, Sammy observed shifts in Stair's online behavior, noting that his social media posts became increasingly erratic.

"At times, he would tweet things and then delete them almost immediately or a few minutes later," Sammy recounted. "They were usually about his purpose in the world or how he felt lost. But he would reassure everyone that it was just a difficult moment for him and that he was OK."

Around 2013, Stair developed an intense fixation on Ember McLain, a ghost rock star from the Nickelodeon animated series "Danny Phantom." This character soon became a central focus of much of Stair's online activity. He created "Ember's Ghost Squad," an animated series inspired by the character, and filled his journals with writings about joining McLain and his own "Ghost Squad" characters after death.

Sammy and other friends noted that this fixation increasingly dominated Stair's online identity.

"Honestly, to this day, I don't really know why he was so drawn to that character," Sammy admitted. "I think it could be something as simple as liking the character, the way she looked and her style. Or he could have felt like he related to her backstory somehow. But I really don't know why he chose that specific character."

The Tragic Attack

Sammy mentioned discussing his employment at Weis Markets with him.

"Obviously, he would say that retail isn't the best place to work, and he didn't want to be there forever," Sammy said. "He encouraged me, as a younger person, not to go into retail, but those were things I'd heard all my life from my older siblings and adults. He wasn't hateful or angry about his job. I never thought he would've done something like that, especially there."

On June 8, 2017, Stair arrived at work during an overnight shift carrying two pistol-grip shotguns. He then blocked the store's entrances and exits, preventing anyone from escaping.

Pennsylvania State Police reported that Stair, 24, fired 59 shots before taking his own life. The victims were identified as Terry Sterling, 63; Victoria Brong, 25; and Brian Hayes, 47. A fourth coworker managed to escape unharmed and alerted law enforcement. Investigators confirmed that the victims were working the overnight shift when the shooting occurred.

Reflecting on Warning Signs

While there is no indication that anyone close to Stair could have foreseen or prevented the attack, Sammy admitted she still grapples with feelings of guilt.

"It was devastating," Sammy said. "I did feel guilty because I wish I had spoken up more about what I saw with him. Several times, when we were in touch, he would post something and take it down, or he would say something, and when I tried to dig deeper, he would deflect. Looking back on it now, there were signs he was in decline."

Wyoming County District Attorney Jeff Mitchell stated that Stair left an extensive online trail that included admiration for the 1999 Columbine High School shooters and expressions of profound dissatisfaction with the world around him, as reported by The Associated Press.

Today, Sammy expresses that her current objective in sharing her experience is to encourage individuals to speak up when they observe someone in distress. She hopes others will learn to recognize changes in behavior and seek assistance if they are concerned about another person's well-being.

"I think people are sometimes afraid to speak up. And we may not know where to get help. But we have to be vigilant about the world around us."