Streaming and YouTuber Rachell ‘Valkyrae’ Hofstetter has vowed to track down the man who attacked her and fellow content creator Cinna (Brittany Lynn Watts )during a live broadcast.
The terrifying incident, which took place at Santa Monica Pier during their “Sis-A-Thon” streaming event, forced them to cut their stream short and seek safety after the man became aggressive.
The event — that was also filmed with fellow content creator, Emiru (Emily Schunk) — was meant to be a fun and engaging live-streaming marathon, but came to a sudden and shocking halt on March 2 when an unknown man approached the group.
At first, there wasn’t much call for alarm since the man — said to be called ‘Russel’ — merely asked for a photo, of which Cinna responded “Yeah of course”.
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However, it was then when he re-appeared 20 minutes later in different clothes that events took a darker turn.
After Emiru refused to give him her phone number, the man became hostile, following them and eventually threatening them before making a lunge toward them. At that moment, their broadcast cut out as they scrambled to find security and police assistance.
Fans of the streamers were left worried after the abrupt end to the stream, but the pair later reassured their audience on social media that they were safe, although they were very much shaken from the ordeal.
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In the aftermath, Valkyrae has made it clear she’s not letting this go, stating that she’s putting everything she can into identifying the attacker.
During a stream the next day on March 3, she said: “He is still out there but I am investing as much as I can to find this guy”.
“If you have any information, I would like it. We are going to find him and I am going to do everything I can to get this guy”, she added.
Cinna echoed these sentiments, revealing that they have strong evidence suggesting the man knew exactly who they were. On top of that, there are images of his face from the live stream that could help authorities identify him.
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While the attack itself was horrifying, new details about the moments afterward paint an even more unsettling picture. The streamers were forced to take refuge inside a store, hoping to evade the man who had been pursuing them.
In the clip, a visibly emotional Cinna explained: “I think when we went into the store, he backed off because it was a lot of people, so we don’t know where he was, we didn’t know where he went”
“We had to hide in a shed for 15 minutes until the cops came”, the YouTuber further stated.
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Valkyrae, reflecting on the experience, didn’t hold back when describing just how terrifying it was. She admitted: “It was terrifying”.
To fully convey the fear they felt in the situation, she then said: “We didn’t know if he was still around or if he’d changed.”
The incident has sparked serious concerns within the streaming community, with many of Valkyrae’s fellow content creators urging others to take safety precautions when doing IRL (in real life) streams. High-profile streamers are now advocating for hiring personal security to prevent similar situations in the future.
With Valkyrae determined to find the man responsible, the case remains ongoing. Fans and streamers alike are keeping a close eye on developments, hoping that justice will be served.