Minneapolis Shooting: Who is Brandon Herrera? Biography, Career, and Activism

Brandon Herrera is an American Second Amendment activist, YouTuber, and political figure from Texas. He is widely known online as “The AK Guy”, a nickname he earned because of his deep passion for firearms, especially AK-47 rifles. By 2025, his YouTube channel had gained more than three million subscribers, making him one of the most popular gun-rights voices in the United States.

Early Life and Background

Brandon Herrera was born in 1996. He grew up in the United States with a strong interest in firearms and shooting sports from a young age. His early life was shaped by the culture of Texas, where gun ownership and the right to bear arms hold deep social and political meaning.

Career on YouTube

Brandon launched his YouTube channel, The AK Guy, in 2014. His videos focused on firearm reviews, gun builds, and educational content about rifles. Over time, his style of mixing humor with technical knowledge made his channel stand out.

His most famous series is the “50 Cal AK Project”, where he tried to build a functioning AK-style rifle chambered in .50 BMG. This ambitious project, along with many gun tests and reviews, helped him build a loyal fan base of both firearm enthusiasts and casual viewers.

Business Ventures

Apart from YouTube, Herrera is also a businessman. He runs The AK Guy, Inc., a firearms company that specializes in rifles and custom gun builds. His business further boosted his reputation in the gun community, showing that he is not only a content creator but also an industry professional.

Political Career

Brandon Herrera entered politics as a Republican. He ran for Congress in Texas’s 23rd District during the 2024 elections. Although he lost the GOP primary runoff, his campaign gained national attention due to his strong pro-Second Amendment stance and his popularity among young conservatives.

In 2025, Herrera confirmed that he would run again in the 2026 elections, aiming to bring his gun-rights activism into Washington politics.

Public Image and Advocacy

Herrera describes himself as a proud defender of the Second Amendment. He argues that gun rights are essential for freedom, self-defense, and American identity. His influence reaches beyond YouTube, as he appears in gun shows, interviews, and firearms expos such as SHOT Show in Las Vegas.

Controversies

In August 2025, Brandon Herrera’s name came into the spotlight after a Minneapolis school shooter mentioned him in a disturbing video manifesto. The attacker, Robin Westman, claimed to have met Herrera at SHOT Show and even urged people to support him for president.

Herrera immediately distanced himself from the shooter. He said he had no memory of meeting the person and condemned the attack as an act of hate and terrorism. He also expressed sympathy for the victims and pledged to cooperate with investigators.

Personal Life

Brandon Herrera is 28 years old (as of 2025). He lives in Texas and continues to focus on both his online career and political ambitions. Although he shares much of his professional life online, Herrera keeps most details of his private life away from the spotlight.