'Looksmaxxer' influencer Clavicular charged in Everglades shooting of alligator

David Goodhue, Miami Herald on May 6, 2026

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

MIAMI — The Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office last week charged popular “Looksmaxxer” influencer Clavicular in connection to an incident that his team filmed in March of him shooting an alligator in the Everglades.

Clavicular, whose name is Braden Eric Peters, 20, isn’t charged with shooting the gator, but instead unlawfully discharging a firearm in a public place, a first-degree misdemeanor carrying a maximum penalty of one year in a county jail if convicted.

Prosecutors charged Peters, along with two other men, on April 29, according to court records. The other defendants are Yabdiel Anibal Cotto Torres, 26, and Andrew Morales, 22. Information on the latter men’s legal representation was not available.

Peters’ attorneys, Steven Kramer and Jeffrey Neiman, released a statement to the Miami Herald saying their client acted on instructions of the airboat guide who took them out into the Everglades on March 26.

“Our client has been summoned to appear for a misdemeanor charge that stems from following the instructions of a licensed airboat guide. He relied on that guidance. No animals or people were harmed. We are confident that once the full picture is understood, people will see this for what it is.”

The Miami New Times was first to report that Peters was charged.

According to the State Attorney’s Office charging document, the incident happened near a boat ramp within the Francis S. Taylor Wildlife Management Area within the national park, where the discharge of a firearm is prohibited unless authorized.

Peters, who says he makes $100,000 a month showing his videos on the Kick livestreaming service, posted footage of himself and his two friends on the airboat when they came upon an alligator floating among lily pads. It’s not clear from the video if the reptile was already dead. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is investigating the shooting.

Peters is heard asking, “Is it dead,” and, “So, can we shoot it?”

Peters and at least one of his friends are armed with semiautomatic handguns, the video shows. He then said, “We have to test if it’s dead.”

Morales, who is known in influencer circles as the “Cuban Tarzan,” then said, “He just wants to shoot something ... , he’s itching,” the footage shows.

The airboat driver said, “You can pretty much do whatever.” And without hesitation, the pair fired more than 25 bullets into the alligator.

The airboat operator has not been identified.

Killing an alligator without a state-issued permit is illegal in Florida.

So far, 2026 has been a challenging year for Peters. Weeks after the alligator incident, Peters was hospitalized after apparently overdosing on drugs at a Miami nightclub.

Peters was also arrested in March over a fight between two women at an AirBnB that he rented in Kissimmee. The Osceola Sheriff’s Office said Peters instigated the fight and posted it online to exploit the women.

Looksmaxxing is a genre of people (mostly boys and men) who alter their looks dramatically for internet clout.

_____

(Miami Herald Staff Writers Ashley Miznazi and Madeliene Marr contributed to this report.)

_____