The Brett Cooper Show

Episode: Quadruple Amputee Cornhole Champion Arrested for Driving and Shooting

Host: Brett Cooper
Date: March 25, 2026

Brief Overview

In this episode, Brett Cooper dissects the internet-shattering, surreal, and tragic story of Dayton Weber—a quadruple amputee, U.S. cornhole champion, and online inspiration—who is now accused of shooting his friend, Bradrick Wells, in a shocking murder case. Cooper navigates the details with a mix of dark humor and respectful acknowledgment of the loss, exploring the deeper issues at play: the gulf between public persona and private reality, generational perceptions of ability and accountability, and the dangers of unchecked instability masked by inspirational narratives.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Viral Absurdity Meets Real Tragedy (00:51–03:30)

• Brett acknowledges the dilemma of discussing the story—its tragic outcome vs. its almost unbelievable, meme-worthy details.
  • "This is a shooting, it is a murder case. But also the thing that everybody is talking about online is how insanely absurd the entire case is. And like, that is what I was drawn to." (00:57, Brett Cooper)
• Takes on a "What would Tim Dillon do?" perspective: tell the absurd story, reflect on internet reactions, then confront the sad reality.

2. Background: Dayton Weber’s Inspirational Narrative (02:56–05:15)

• Dayton Weber was long celebrated in media (ESPN, The Today Show, Washington Post) as an "inspirational" figure—quadruple amputee who excelled at wrestling and cornhole.
  • "He was this amazing wrestler even though he had no limbs. His passion, his unusual success in cornhole, his love of the outdoors, all of it was written about." (03:00)
• Notable quote from Weber’s past op-ed about overcoming expectations: "People assume I can't operate heavy equipment, for example, but I can. That's why I hope people give disabled people a chance. We will definitely surprise you if we say we can do it. We can do it. We've probably done it before." (04:08, citing Dayton Weber)

3. Details of the Incident (05:15–06:50)

• According to witnesses, Weber was driving (a Tesla) with two friends; during an argument with Bradrick Wells (front seat), Weber allegedly pulled a firearm and shot Wells twice in the head.
• Afterward, he told the friends in the backseat to dump the body; they refused and called police.
• Police later found Weber at a hospital, arrested him, and charged him with murder and other offenses.
• Internet immediately fixates on surreal details: "How did they even handcuff him? Like, that's the first thing I thought of." (06:41)

4. Internet’s Reaction & Memetics (06:54–11:15)

• Online responses were a mix of disbelief, dark memes, and puns: "This case simply has no legs. It has no legs." (06:53)
• Comments highlighted the seeming impossibility of the act (“no fingerprints could be found,” “who let the guy with no arms and no legs drive?”).
• The Tesla detail explained mobility, but skepticism remained about physical plausibility.

5. Social Media Evidence: Videos Undermining the Defense (11:23–15:12)

• Internet quickly surfaced videos of Weber shooting guns and climbing ladders without arms or legs:
  • "Everybody and their mother had a video of this man, Dayton Weber, shooting guns. They are all over the Internet. Just take a look. There you go officer. Case closed." (11:29, Brett Cooper)
• His own YouTube and TikTok posts provided evidence of his abilities, complicating potential legal defenses.
• Even ladder climbing and crossbow demonstration videos exist—"He certainly is defying odds like he wrote about in his Today show article." (14:55)

6. Unreported Past Legal Trouble (15:12–18:45)

• Weber’s DUI in 2020 (after crashing into a cop car and a building) was widely reported in local news but appears to have been expunged from official records.
  • "He ran into a cop car, he crashed into a cop car...so swept under the rug that mainstream media is not even recording it..." (16:20)
• He also had underage alcohol charges and multiple license suspensions prior to the DUI.
• Raised questions about media accountability and whether his public persona shielded him from legal consequences.
  • Notable unverified quote from a classmate: "He treated everyone however he felt because he knew he could get away with it, given his condition, unsurprised that he killed someone." (17:30, read as context not confirmation)

7. Substance Abuse & Cultural Reflections (18:45–20:21)

• Brett argues this is “not a gun problem” but a problem of instability and substance abuse.
  • "As I learn more about this young man and read his story, I think it's abundantly clear that this is a very angry and unstable and possibly disturbed individual with a long pattern, a literal pattern history record of substance abuse." (18:53)
• Suggests focus should be on improving societal health and accountability, not on restricting rights from the law-abiding majority.

8. Victim’s Story and Deeper Tragedy (20:21–22:15)

• Bradrick Wells, the victim, described by family as caring, a new father, and a friend who looked out for Weber.
  • "He tried to do everything for people. He helped this guy who killed him...helped him a lot as far as, like, a caregiver." (20:21, quoting Wells’ father)
• Wells’ family says some took advantage of Weber for his money, but Bradrick’s friendship was genuine.

9. Wealth, Lawsuit, and Privilege (20:21–22:15)

• Brett cites court records of a medical malpractice lawsuit won by Weber’s family, possibly explaining his financial resources.
• Speculates this enabled his lifestyle and may have reduced accountability.
  • "Significant resources to blow and possibly limited accountability due to his situation... this DUI was expunged even when he hit a cop car." (21:33)

10. Final Thoughts and Reflections (22:15–23:04)

• Brett underscores:
  • The surreal nature of the story.
  • The sadness behind the memes: "It is so absurd. I understand why the Internet is just losing their mind over it and why the memes are going crazy. But the entire thing is just so tragic, obviously." (22:32)
  • Reminds listeners of the horrific reality: the loss of Bradrick Wells and the community’s pain, contrasting the superficial inspirational story with underlying instability and tragedy.

Notable Quotes

• "This is going to be a true test for me and Max, my editor, to see if we can actually toe the line here." — Brett Cooper (01:16)
• "He wrote, I want to encourage others to take chances and pursue their dreams... I've overcome difficulties and I think others can, too... That's why I hope people give disabled people a chance. We will definitely surprise you if we say we can do it. We can do it. We've probably done it before." — Brett quoting Dayton Weber (04:08)
• "When people saw that headline that, again, read like, something from the Onion or the Babylon Bee... The Internet had the same reaction ... this case simply has no legs. It has no legs." — Brett Cooper (06:45)
• "He certainly is defying odds like he wrote about in his Today show article. Like, it's just... I don't even know." — Brett Cooper (14:55)
• "He was a car and motocross enthusiast and he was a new father to a young baby girl. A baby girl just lost her father." — Brett Cooper (18:35)
• "The entire thing is just so tragic. So there is your breakdown of the story. So if you, like me, were confused about the headlines, thought it was not possible. Unfortunately, it looks like it was. And it is a very tragic story." — Brett Cooper (22:58)

Key Timestamps

• 00:51 — Brett introduces the story, balances absurdity and tragedy
• 03:00 — Background on Dayton Weber’s life and public narrative
• 05:15 — Detailed walkthrough of the alleged shooting incident
• 06:54 — Internet reactions: memes, puns, disbelief
• 11:23 — Video evidence of Weber's abilities undermines possible legal defenses
• 15:12 — Discussion of Weber’s prior DUI and history
• 18:45 — Substance abuse and the broader cultural issue
• 20:21 — Victim’s story and dynamics of friendship/privilege
• 22:15 — Closing reflections: surrealism vs. tragedy

Summary

This episode presents a complex, troubling story that smashes together a feel-good inspirational narrative with an alleged act of shocking violence. Brett Cooper navigates the absurd headlines, humorous and skeptical online reactions, and—most importantly—the tragic consequences for the victim, Bradrick Wells, and his family. She offers sharp cultural commentary on what happens when society undervalues accountability and enables troubled individuals due to sympathetic public perception. Ultimately, the podcast is a sobering reminder that internet spectacle and meme culture often obscure real suffering and loss, and asks audiences to grapple with the uncomfortable intersection of optimism, ability, and personal responsibility.