Urban Outfitters apologized Monday for its ill-advised decision to sell a bloody Kent State sweatshirt.

The retail clothing outlet listed the sweatshirt for $129 on its website and described the item as a "vintage find." One sweatshirt was sold before public outcry prompted the item's removal. Displayed under the heading "get it or regret it!," "it" subsequently was listed as "sold out" on the site.

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In apparent reference to the deaths of four students shot by National Guard troops during the 1970 Kent State protests of the expansion of the Vietnam War by Richard Nixon into Cambodia and Laos, the sweatshirt appeared to be soaked in fake blood with holes. Nine other students were injured in what was considered a watershed moment in the protests against the war.

Twitter exploded in outrage with comments lambasting Urban Outfitters. Some tweets discussed returning company merchandise in protest while others sarcastically blasted the company for showing people how important it was to learn about history.

Kent State University took "great offense" at the listing. Officials blasted the company for using their pain in order to profit from it, adding the sweatshirt was offensive and trivialized the loss of life.

Responding on Twitter, Urban Outfitters "sincerely" apologized, saying the sweatshirt wasn't intended to offend anyone. It was a "one-of-a-kind" item that was part of its sun-faded vintage collection, with the red stains and holes allegedly being the result of natural wear and tear, Urban Outfitters said.

The person who purchased the sweatshirt went under the name of kentstatesweater online and immediately put the item on eBay with a $550 price tag. The buyer said half the profits would be donated to the Southern Poverty Law Center.

TagsUrban Outfitters, Kent State, bloody sweatshirt, urban outfitters coupon, eBay, southern poverty law center, Fashion, vietnam war, sweatshirt, nixon, 1970 kent state, vintage clothes, vintage