Flash Shelton never thought he’d become a viral sensation. But these days, he’s the guy in black tactical body armor — armed with pepper spray, a stun gun, a steel baton, a body cam and sometimes a Glock 26 pistol. His cap? It bluntly states: “Get Out.”
Shelton is on a mission to boot squatters out of uninhabited homes. “I have possession of this house now,” he tells them. “You’ve got until the end of the day to get the stuff out. Whatever’s left is mine.”
His methods are swift and effective. Instead of months or years of legal battles and costly attorney fees, Shelton’s confrontations often end with the squatters leaving within hours. “It all started because I was trying to be a good son,” Shelton, now known as the Squatter Hunter, said in an interview with People.
In 2019, after his father’s death, Shelton’s mother couldn’t sell her vacant home in Northern California because squatters had moved in. “The police told me that there was nothing they could do — it was a civil matter,” Shelton told the outlet.
So, he devised a plan: his mother wrote up a lease making him the official tenant, legally allowing him to enter the home. He drove 10 hours from Los Angeles, installed security cameras and confronted the squatters.
“I basically said, ‘Look, I have possession of this house now … I will prosecute you if you make an attempt to get back in the house,’” he said. By midnight, they were gone.
Shelton’s first video of this encounter, posted in 2023, went viral with more than 6.3 million views. Now, property owners nationwide seek his help. “I probably do three or four consultations over the phone a day,” he added. “Some people say I’m doing godly work. Others say I’m doing the work of the devil.”
Shelton, who recently signed a TV production deal, explained his tactics to People.
He often starts by gathering information on squatters, running background checks and preparing videos of their movements.
“If it’s somebody who is worried about being able to lease a property in the future or if they’re worried about their reputation on social media or about losing their job, then that’s all I have to do — and they leave,” he said.
When that fails, he moves in.
“I’ll say, ‘Hey, let’s have a conversation.’ And then I explain to them that we’re literally going to move in, that I’m going to occupy this space, and that we’re going to put cameras up everywhere but their bedroom and bathroom.” he added.
If necessary, he’ll resort to disabling utilities or starting renovations to make the living situation unbearable. “I can take a chainsaw and cut doors in half … turn their living space into a nightmare,” he said.
Despite the intensity, Shelton remains clear and in control.
“I’m stern … I’m their PE teacher or I’m their drill sergeant,” he said. His background as a baseball coach, business owner and bouncer helps him handle these high-stress situations without losing his cool.
“I go into every single situation expecting the worst and adapting to the best,” he added.
So far, Shelton’s confrontations have not gotten physical.
“So far, knock on wood, it has never turned violent. I’m always 100% clear about who we are — squatter hunters.”