Maker of AR-15-style rifle used in Texas shooting pulls out of NRA convention

The 18-year-old shooter who killed 19 students and two teachers Tuesday in Uvalde used a “military-style” rifle identified as a high-end gun manufactured in Georgia.

Days before the attack, Salvador Ramos bought a $1,870 Daniel Defense DDM4 V7 rifle, which he purchased online shortly after his 18th birthday. It was one of two AR-style semi-automatic rifles he purchased. On Friday, May 20, he posted photos of both guns on his Instagram account.

Ramos had also sent messages to someone he met online about the Daniel Defense gun he had recently purchased, according to a conversation obtained by the Daily Dot. And he sent a screenshot of the receipt from the purchase.

“We are deeply saddened by the tragic events in Texas this week. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and community devastated by this evil act,” Daniel Defense writes in a statement on its website. “As reported in Governor Abbott’s press conference, it is our understanding that the firearm used in the attack was manufactured by Daniel Defense. We will cooperate with all federal, state, and local law enforcement authorities in their investigations. We will keep the families of the victims and the entire Uvalde community in our thoughts and our prayers.”

The National Rifle Association annual convention in Houston this weekend showcasing 14 acres of guns and gear from popular companies originally featured a Daniel Defense booth. Now, the manufacturer is no longer part of the exhibit.

This isn’t the first time a Daniel Defense firearm has been used to carry out a mass shooting. Four Daniel Defense AR-15-style rifles were found in the hotel room of the 2017 Las Vegas shooter.

What is Daniel Defense?

Daniel Defense is a a Black Creek, Georgia company that sells AR-15 semi-automatic rifles and accessories online. It ships weapons to registered dealers, who then finish the purchase if the customer is 18 or older and passes a background check.

Founder Marty Daniel started the company in 2001 after inventing a custom attachment for his rifle and selling extra pieces online, according to Forbes. Daniel was discovered by a U.S. Special Forces rep at a 2002 gun show and signed a $20 million contract.

Since then, Daniel Defense has become one of the largest privately held producers of guns and accessories in the country. Daniel says sales have increased several times in the past years after politically charged events, like during the Hillary Clinton 2016 presidential campaign and after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting that killed 26 people.

“The mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in 2012 drove a lot of sales,” Daniel told Forbes in 2017. “That was a horrible event and we don’t use those kinds of terrible things to drive sales but when people see politicians start talking about gun control, they have this fear and they go out and buy guns.”

In 2013, Daniel Defense was involved in controversy when stations rejected its advertisement for the Super Bowl, citing the NFL’s commercial policy: “Firearms, ammunition or other weapons are prohibited; however, stores that sell firearms and ammunitions (e.g., outdoor stores and camping stores) will be permitted, provided they sell other products and the ads do not mention firearms, ammunition or other weapons.”

On May 16, Daniel Defense tweeted a photo of a young boy holding a rifle in his lap and captioned it with a Bible verse followed by a praying hands emoji: “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

What do we know about the DDM4 V7 rifle?

The DDM4 V7 rifle is listed as a “personal defense” and “home defense” weapon on the Daniel Defense website.

“Built from the ground up, these Daniel Defense firearms are engineered and recommended to provide the accuracy, precision and dependability you would expect to protect your family and home,” the page says.

One blog post on the website says they used the weapon to hunt coyotes.

“No follow-up shot was needed, which is how I like it. The DD4V7 is incredibly accurate and the Hornady Super Performance Varmint ammunition is deadly. The combination of two in the field is remarkable,” the post reads.

Other posts include five ways to support second amendment rights, firearm training and a post titled “So, You’ve Got a Gun. Now What?”

The gun, which received 46 positive reviews on the website, has a 16-inch barrel, a 5.56 millimeter caliber, is 32 to 35 inches long and weighs six pounds.

Here’s how it’s described by the manufacturer:

“The DDM4 V7 AR15 style firearm features M-LOK attachment technology with the Daniel Defense MFR 15.0 rail. Built around a Cold Hammer Forged, 16 inch barrel, the V7 has a DD improved Flash Suppressor to reduce flash signature. The mid-length gas system provides smooth and reliable cycling under any condition and reduces both perceived recoil and wear on moving parts. With the M-LOK attachment points that run along 7 positions and an uninterrupted 1913 Picatinny rail on top, the V7 has plenty of room for the sights, optics, and accessories the user may require. The independently ambi GRIP-N-RIP Charging Handle accommodates left- and right-handed shooters. This rifle also comes with the ergonomic Daniel Defense Buttstock and Pistol Grip.”

When purchasing the gun, a customer can add it to their cart, enter their address, select a dealer near them, and checkout. The Uvalde shooter paid $1,870 for the rifle and $154.28 tax, for a total of $2,024.28. He then picked it up from a local sporting goods store called Oasis Outback.

In 2017, the NRA selected the Daniel Defense V7 as its gun of the year.

A different Daniel Defense government product line is available for U.S. Department of Defense and other U.S. government agencies, as well for international customers under the Foreign Military Sales program.