Quadruple Amputee, Professional Cornhole Champ Claims Self Defense In Fatal Shooting

Summary

Podcast Summary

Podcast: Amy Robach & T.J. Holmes Present
Episode: Quadruple Amputee, Professional Cornhole Champ Claims Self Defense In Fatal Shooting
Date: April 1, 2026
Hosts: Amy Robach, TJ Holmes
Theme:
An exploration of the shocking and complex case involving Dayton Weber, a quadruple amputee and professional cornhole player, who is charged with first-degree murder for fatally shooting Bradrick Wells. The episode dissects the evolving legal defense of self-defense, the remarkable life and abilities of Weber, and the unprecedented nature of the crime.

---

Episode Overview

• Main Focus:
  The controversial case of Dayton Weber, a quadruple amputee who achieved fame as a professional athlete, now facing murder charges after admitting to shooting a man while driving. The case’s uniqueness, media attention, and Weber’s self-defense claim are key discussion points.
• Purpose:
  To unpack the headline-grabbing incident and analyze the legal, social, and human facets: from the logistics of how the crime was committed to the dueling narratives of prosecution and defense, and the implications for disability representation.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Case Recap & Initial Shock

• The story first made headlines because of its extraordinary elements: a quadruple amputee, an accomplished athlete, accused of killing a man while driving.
• Amy sets the scene:

  “It was pretty incredible...now to hear, yep, I did it and I did it to save my own life.” (00:06)

2. How the Incident Unfolded

• Date: March 22

• Scene:

  • Dayton Weber allegedly shot his front-seat passenger, Bradrick Wells, twice in the head while driving.
  • Two backseat passengers witnessed everything.
  • Weber then asked the backseat passengers to help dispose of the body. They refused and flagged down police.
  • Weber reportedly pushed the body out in a yard and fled over state lines before being caught in Virginia and extradited. (01:37–02:47)

• TJ describes the aftermath:

  "He then pulled over and asked for these two folks in the backseat to help him get rid of the body, dump the body. I mean, look, he has limitations physically...But yeah, he needed help, he said." (02:47)

3. Legal Defense & Arguments

• Weber’s Attorney:

  • Claims self-defense, asserting Weber would have been killed had he not acted immediately.
  • Anticipates a lengthy trial.

  “...he would have been a murder victim if he had not acted immediately in defense of his life.” (00:44, quoting the attorney) “His attorney went on to say that yes, Weber did act in self defense. So they've already laid out their defense, but said that he anticipates 'a lengthy trial to prove it.'” (06:37)

• Prosecution:

  • Portrays Weber as having a history of violence, including a prior incident with the same victim.
  • Alleged previous incident where Weber shot a gun in the victim’s direction is cited.
  • Argues Weber fled and is therefore a flight risk; denies bail.

  “Prosecutors are making argument that he fled. They don't want him to get bail.” (04:01) “This isn't the first time we've seen some violence from this guy and it's not the first time we've seen an incident between these two men...” (04:30)

4. Relationship & Motive

• Conflict Origin:
  • Dispute stemmed over a stolen gun; Weber upset that Wells remained friends with the alleged thief.

  “They were arguing over a gun...his friend, according to Weber, stole a gun from him. And Weber was upset that Wells was still friends with the thief...it escalated to the point where, where he shot him twice...” (04:56)

5. Questions Around Mechanics & Witness Accounts

• Remarkable Abilities:

  • Weber, despite no limbs, could drive and even fire a gun—skills documented in social media posts and media coverage.

  "No matter how many times I see it, it's still hard for me to process...how someone with no limbs is driving a car and able at the same time to shoot someone in the car next to him." (05:50)

• Eyewitnesses:

  • Two direct witnesses from the backseat are seen as central to the case.
  • Their account (reportedly not indicating self-defense) casts doubt on Weber's claim.

  “How are you going to say it's self defense when two people, they would have to say the same thing, would they not?...I don't know how you can say self defense unless you know those two people in the backseat saw it that way.” (08:55)

  • Neither has spoken publicly; only police summaries are available at present.

6. Media Attention & Weber’s Background

• Weber’s Notoriety:

  • Once hailed as an athletic prodigy and inspiration.
  • Appeared on ESPN and morning shows; began career as a wrestler, transitioned to state-champion cornhole player.

  “He has been featured on ESPN before. He's made morning show rounds. And we talked about this previously...It's inspirational to see..." (12:25) "He was named the best cornhole player in the entire state of Maryland. So he was the real deal." (13:21)

• Life Story:

  • Lost all limbs at 10 months old due to blood disease—has known only life as a quadruple amputee (13:21).

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Amy (on the crime and its impact):

  “Take it a step further. He can drive a car and he can apparently shoot and kill a guy.” (01:37)

• TJ (on the odd juxtaposition):

  "What an inspiration. Even at 27, he's a very young man." (13:21)

• Amy (on the role of the witnesses):

  “Isn't the case in the back seat of that car?...That's the case, is it not?...I mean, how are you going to say it's self defense when two people, they would have to say the same thing, would they not?” (08:55)

• TJ (on Weber’s story):

  “It's so sad to see someone who was able to. To do so much with so little and find himself in the position he's in right now." (13:21)

---

Important Segments & Timestamps

• 00:06: Amy introduces the headline and main subject.
• 01:37: Detailed recounting of the incident: shooting, the body, witnesses’ actions.
• 02:47: Weber’s request for help, witnesses’ refusal and escape, his flight.
• 04:01: Legal status—extradition, bail denial.
• 04:30: Prior alleged violent incidents between Weber and Wells.
• 04:56: Motive and relationship revealed: fight over a gun.
• 05:50: Discussion about mechanics and social media videos of Weber’s abilities.
• 06:37: Legal strategies; anticipated “lengthy trial.”
• 08:04–08:55: The critical importance of the backseat witnesses’ testimony.
• 10:19: Recap of the current situation; next court date (May 6); bond denied.
• 13:21–14:39: Reflecting on Weber’s inspirational life story, athletic accomplishments, and tragic turn.

---

Tone and Dynamics

• Language & Style:
  Frank, curious, at times incredulous—balancing respect for Weber’s achievements with shock at the crime.
• Analytical but Human:
  Hosts show empathy for the extraordinary challenges Weber overcame, but voice confusion and skepticism over the alleged crime and defense.

---

Closing Thoughts

Amy and TJ leave the case open-ended, acknowledging many unanswered questions. They note the irony and complexity of a man long regarded as an inspiration now being at the center of a high-profile murder case—and highlight the unprecedented legal, ethical, and social issues the trial will explore.

Case Status at Episode’s End:

• Weber remains held without bail, facing first-degree murder and other charges.
• Preliminary hearing set for May 6.
• The defense, prosecution, and public all await direct accounts from the two eyewitnesses—the critical voices that will likely determine the trial’s outcome.

---

(End of Summary)

Transcript

[Podcast Announcer]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

Guaranteed Human.

[Amy Robes]

Hey there folks. It is Wednesday, April 1st and the headlines were shocking. A quadruple amputee who's also a professional cornhole player was charged with first degree murder, accused of shooting and killing a guy while the amputee was also driving a car. Now we're hearing from that quadruple amputee who's saying yeah, I shot and killed the guy and he's saying it was self defense. With that, welcome to this episode of Amy and TJ Robes this story. It was pretty incredible to hear the initial headlines and now to hear, yep, I did it and I did it to save my own life.

[TJ Holmes]

Yes, and it was that dramatic. Look, there were a lot of questions and I still have quite a few after this murder happened and this just happened last week. We're talking March 22, where yes, he is accused of shooting and killing his passenger who was right next to him, 27 year old Bradrick Wells, twice in the head while he was driving. And here's the deal, he had two passengers in the back seat witnessing the whole thing. So yes, there were a lot of questions as to how he did it and, and then of course why he did it. And now we're hearing that his attorney very dramatically said the truth here is that he would have been a murder victim if he had not acted immediately in defense of his life. That is a direct quote from Dayton Weber's attorney today.

[Amy Robes]

Yeah, that's the he we're talking about is Dayton Weber. This is someone who has gained a bit of fame over what he has accomplished, quite frankly. Frankly, a quadruple amputee. This was something a, a condition when he was a child actually. So he's grown up like this and has not. Has grown up without limbs, no legs, no arms, but he's been able robes to find a way to be not just competitive but to make a living playing cornhole of all things. If you see the video, he's is the way he's able to clasp those bags and toss them and was competitive, quite frankly. It was impressive to see all that he has been able to do. Take it a step further. He can drive a car and he can apparently shoot and kill a guy. And we're still have a lot of questions about how it happened. But it was interesting to hear now that he is back in Maryland to hear this case that he has been extradited back, that he is putting up a defense Robes. And I wasn't expecting necessarily this because the shooting and the details around it Sounded like a guy who in the moment wasn't thinking self defense. And I got witnesses to back me up. And he sounded like a guy in the moment as we described the incident. Like a guy who was trying to get away with something.

[TJ Holmes]

Yes, absolutely. And according to the two folks who were in the backseat who he picked up from work, they reported to police that once he shot his friend, the person sitting next to him, twice in the head. He then pulled over and asked for these two folks in the backseat to help him get rid of the body, dump the body. I mean, look, he has limitations physically. Obviously he's done incredibly well to overcome them in so many ways. But yeah, he needed help, he said. So. The two people in the back seat told police that they immediately refused, jumped out of the car, literally took off and were able to ultimately flag down a police officer. Meantime, Dayton Weber reportedly some just yet somehow pushed the body out in the middle of a yard. They had a report of a body found in a yard not that far away from where the other two were able to get out. But yeah, he traveled some hundred and something miles to Virginia where he was captured and then extradited. And now we are hearing from his attorney that, yeah, he had no other choice. Now, we did not hear that initially from the two people in the back seat who saw the whole thing happen.

[Amy Robes]

And prosecutors are saying, you said they he was caught in Virginia. Prosecutors are making argument that he fled. They don't want him to get bail. Right now they've made the argument that they didn't grant it.

[TJ Holmes]

He did not get bail. He is going to remain behind bars until further notice.

[Amy Robes]

And they make the argument he's not a flight risk. You can make that argument. Sure. You can also make an argument that he's not a threat to anybody else in the community. Okay. That's the argument. They didn't fly. But robes, I thought it was interesting that the prosecution actually brought up in court.

[Podcast Announcer]

Yeah.

[Amy Robes]

This isn't the first time we've seen some violence from this guy and it's not the first time we've seen an incident between these two men. In describing a previous incident in which he shot a gun in that guy's direction. These two guys apparently knew each other and he fired a gun at him previously, according to prosecutors. Now. So he's making an argument that this isn't just some one off random thing. This guy maybe had it out for this one guy who's dead, but also just trying to display this wasn't a one off, violent moment for him. Yes.

[TJ Holmes]

And also of note, we also learned what it was that the two were arguing over. Babe, they were arguing over a gun. So according to what was entered into evidence, or at least was filed today in court, they claim that he got into an argument over a gun that a friend of the victim. And we should, do we mention who the victim is? I, that's, we should definitely. 27 year old Bradrick Wells. So his friend, according to Weber, stole a gun from him. And Weber was upset that Wells was still friends with the thief. It was kind of like you shouldn't be friends with somebody who stole something from me. And somehow him being upset with Wells that he was still friends with a guy he claimed stole a gun from him, that it escalated to the point where, where he shot him twice in

[Amy Robes]

the head while driving and robed it to. Look, I, I, it's explained. I've seen some videos of Weber online. He's posted some videos of himself firing a gun. He's able to hold it, clasp a certain way and pull the trigger and fire. He has posted videos of him doing this robes. No matter how many times I see it, it's still hard for me to process, to understand, to picture how someone with no limbs is driving a car and able at the same time to shoot someone in the car next to him. And by the way, there were passengers who were obviously comfortable willing to ride with him and he's driven them around before. That's fine. But Ro, that's just, it's still kind of hard to get your head around how he was able to do this.

[TJ Holmes]

It, I still can't envision it. And look, the prosecutors, as you mentioned, described Weber as someone who had anger issues, who had been violent before. But what we heard from the defense attorney, he actually came out and talked to reporters once the hearing was over and described Weber in the moment as terrified. So what? The defense is already starting to lay a foundation for flies in the face of what the prosecution is setting up. That's not that unusual, but I thought this was interesting. His attorney went on to say that yes, Weber did act in self defense. So they've already laid out their defense, but said that he anticipates, quote, a lengthy trial to prove it. So they are gearing up, they're setting expectations and it looks like we're in for a, a long haul in terms of what may play out in court. At least that's what his defense attorney is saying right now.

[Amy Robes]

I mean, how it's going to play out in court, I mean, we, this is his first appearance in court. He was extradited back to Maryland where he's facing charges. But on day one, the first legal proceeding at all, and he's already talking about and looking forward to trial. I don't know what that strategy is, or maybe they think they have a great case. But we know there are two witnesses. They must feel pretty strongly about these two witnesses and what they saw. But from what the story, the way it goes, Robes, it doesn't sound like these two witnesses necessarily. No. They wanted to get out. They didn't want any part of this.

[TJ Holmes]

Yes. So at least the scene that was described initially from the two witnesses and then what police told reporters when he was captured, it is nothing like what the defense is now trying to say happened in terms of some terrifying scene where Weber felt terrified for his life. If that were the case, I would imagine the two people in the backseat would have perhaps potentially acted differently. So this is not going to be. You know, so many times we cover cases and trials. Ultimately, we're the only people who know what happened are the person on the trial on trial and the person who is, for lack of a better way to put it, you know, dead, not there to defend himself or to give a different version of events. In this situation, you have two eyewitnesses.

[Amy Robes]

That's the case right there.

[TJ Holmes]

The back seat. Not one, but two.

[Amy Robes]

That's the case, is it not? Isn't the case in the back seat of that car? I mean, how are you going to say it's self defense when two people, they would have to say the same thing, would they not? You have to feel pretty good that those two people saw it the way your client saw it. I don't know how you can say self defense unless you know those two people in the backseat saw it that way. I don't know how else to. I don't know how you get around that. Well, this is just his first court appearance. We do expect him in court again, we'll explain that and also explain to you just how big of a star he had become.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

With VRBoCare, help is always ready before, during, and after your stay. We've planned for the plot twists, so support is always available because a great trip starts with peace of mind this

[Grocery Store Ad Announcer]

week with digital coupons at Safeway and Albertsons. Get beef rib roast for $7.97 per pound member price with minimum purchase of $50 or more in a single transaction. Exclusions apply. See store for details and broccoli, cauliflower, or russet potatoes are $0.97 per pound member price limit £6 plus selected sizes and varieties of Lucerne Butter Cheese or Philadelphia Cream Cheese are 197 each member price. Visit Safeway or Albertsons.com for more deals and ways to save.

[TJ Holmes]

Welcome back everyone to this episode of Amy and tj. We are following up on a big bombshell of a case that we first brought to you last week. Now we are hearing from the quadruple amputee professional cornhole player, 27 year old Dayton Weber. He had a day in court today. He's been extradited back to Maryland after police say and he's frankly admitted to by what we're hearing from his defense attorney to shooting a man who was sitting next to him as he was driving because they got into a heated argument. His lawyer now saying it was self defense. He was scared for his life. He had no other choice except for to shoot this man next to him. Otherwise he himself would have been the murder victim. So yes, we are hearing apparently Dayton Weber is claiming it was self defense. But we are going to hear a lot more from Weber next month. He has a preliminary hearing on May 6 because today even though he went in and he was denied bond or denied bail, he didn't actually technically enter enter a plea. However, as we pointed out, his attorney made it very clear where they're headed.

[Amy Robes]

I mean you couldn't say anything else. You had two people in the car. You couldn't say I didn't shoot him obviously. So you, this is your only option for a defense, is it not? It was the only choice.

[TJ Holmes]

I would think that that would be the only possible way. And that's why I was kind of thinking, well, with the eyewitnesses that they have, the forensics, I'm sure that they have the fact that he fled and they had to go find him, they were able to track his vehicle and then extra at him. I'm thinking to myself the only, only thing he can do at this point is figure out some sort of plea deal. But I, I get it. Like obviously everyone thinks they've got a shot and he certainly does. And we don't know what the two passengers are going to say. We only know what police told us their account was. We haven't heard directly from them and clearly we won't until trial. And so yes, it would seem that the defense wouldn't even feel comfortable going forward with this and be so bold as to tell reporters what your defense is if you didn't feel like you might get some sort of corrobora from the folks in the backseat.

[Amy Robes]

You get corroboration from the back seat. What do you get from the jury in a case like this? What do you get? How do you look at someone? I mean, it's just hard to get your head around and prosecute. Is going to have to explain how he did this, how he was able to do this. But he has served. He has been featured on ESPN before. He's made morning show rounds. And we talked about this previously. Robes. It is really impressive and incredible for him to show that it doesn't matter what your physical limitations may be, that you can still do so much. I mean, it's inspirational to see you're not proud and say, way to go. You're able to shoot and kill somebody as well. But Rose, just everything here, it's a weird thing to be impressed even in this effort. And no, we don't want him to be able to. To kill anybody. But Rogue, what, what an inspiration. Even at Teachers 27, he's a very young man.

[TJ Holmes]

Yeah. And he's been an inspiration since he was 11 years old. I believe that was the first time he was featured by some local television news outlet because he was a savant, he was a star athlete, he was a wrestler, and he ultimately gravitated towards cornhole. But look, I. I think that's a. That takes skill, that takes precision. And those of us who have two arms and two legs, I can eye. I see something like that. And I can't even get my head around how he's able to do what he's done. Now, you pointed out he lost his limbs at 10 months old. So this is all he's known. He had a blood disorder, a blood disease where if they didn't amputate, he wouldn't have been able to survive. So this was his only chance at living. And frankly, he wasn't even given much of that. So for him to just overcome, survive, and now to also be someone to look up to some athletic savant who was able to go up against folks who had no limitations and still be. He was named the best cornhole player in the entire state of Maryland. So he was the real deal. It's. It's so sad to see someone who was able to. To do so much with so little and find himself in the position he's in right now.

[Amy Robes]

Yeah. And we, again, we don't know how this is going to work out. We need to hear the full story. But up until March 22, when this, this incident occurred, he absolutely was someone who should be celebrated and maybe down the road he will continue to be. But as of now, he is facing you have some charges were added right it I know he's facing first degree murder, but several other charges were added and announced today at least. So this is one we will keep a close, close eye on. Wasn't expecting this update necessarily, but it's one we'll keep an eye on. Dayton Weber is the name, but we always appreciate you spending some time here with us. From my dear Amy Rock, I'm T.J. holmes. Talk soon.

[Chelsea Handler]

This is Chelsea Handler. From Dear Chelsea, after the Big Game, like most people, I kept thinking about the commercials, and there was one that stayed with me. It was from the Blue Square Alliance Against Hate. And it wasn't loud or flashy. It showed a Jewish kid being targeted at school and another student who chose not to ignore it. As someone who was Jewish, that moment felt very real to me. Not dramatic, just familiar. And what struck me was how how clearly it showed that hate doesn't always announce itself, but the impact is still huge. If you saw the Blue Square spot during the Big Game, it's worth thinking about. And if you want to show support, sharing the Blue Square is one small way to do that.

[Podcast Announcer]

Early birds always rise to the occasion for summer vacation planning because early gets you closer to the action. So don't be late. Book your next vacation early on VRBO and save over $120. Rise and shine. Average savings $141. Select homes only. This is an I Heart podcast.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

Guaranteed human.