Follow us on

Friday, May 24, 2013 | 6:19 a.m.

Powered by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Web Search by YAHOO!
 

Updated: 7:58 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2013 | Posted: 11:16 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2013

Operator of popular YouTube channel found shot to death in northeast Georgia

Related

YouTube channel death photo
Franklin County resident Keith Ratliff was found shot once in the head last Thursday at his business, FPS Industries, just outside of Carnesville.

By Mike Morris

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

One of the operators of a popular YouTube channel promoting high-powered guns and explosives was found shot to death last week in northeast Georgia.

Keith Ratliff, 32, was found dead at 5:45 p.m. Thursday at his business on Hayes Road in Carnesville, said Franklin County Sheriff Steve Thomas in a press release.

Ratliff, of Frankfort, Ky., had been shot once in the head, and his death is a homicide. He had been dead for some time when the body was discovered, Thomas said. He was last seen alive Wednesday around 7 p.m.

The GBI has been called in to assist in the investigation, and Ratliff’s body was taken to the GBI Crime Lab in Atlanta for an autopsy.

Ratliff, along with Kyle Lamar Myers, who appears in the popular online videos, operate the “FPSRussia” YouTube channel, which has 3.4 million subscribers. Videos posted on the channel have racked up more than a half-billion views. According to YouTube, FPSRussia is the ninth-most popular channel on the website.

Ratliff also operated a company out of Carnesville called FPS Industries. In video gamer jargon, FPS stands for first person shooter.

The Facebook page for FPS Industries indicates that the company, which sells “custom weaponry and weapon technologies,” is located on Hayes Road in Carnesville.

On his LinkedIn profile, Ratliff stated, “After a life of loving firearms and computers, I have combined both into one great new business that offers both viral marketing and quality firearms from one place. We are FPS Industries Global LLC, a type 10 Destructive Device Manufacturer and Viral Marketing superpower on YouTube and Facebook.”

More News

 

Today on MyAJC.com

Veterans Park renovations

Memorial Day in Atlanta: ‘Sacred Soil’ enhances history center’s redone Veterans Park

Soil collected from important battlegrounds will be included in the Atlanta History Center’s dedication of its new park honoring military veterans

New books on barbecue celebrate primal fire and smoke

Barbecue roadtrips and more: If you love barbecue, these books are for you

Four books celebrate the roots -- and experience -- of cooking over fire and smoke, including a tour of Southern BBQ 'crossroads' large and small

Powerful start for rookie

Atlanta Braves: B.J. Upton ends home-run drought

Homer against the Twins marks the first time Upton has hit in consecutive games since early May.