07/18/2026
**My Statement About the Walmart Charging Station Incident**
I want to start by saying that I am truly sorry for the language I used that day. What I said was offensive, hurtful, and wrong. Regardless of what happened before the recording started, I am responsible for the words that came out of my mouth, and I understand why people who heard them were angry and offended.
I also want to explain what happened before the video began, not to excuse what I said, but because the video circulating online shows only the final moments of a confrontation that had already been going on.
There were five charging stations at the Walmart, but only three were working. I had already been waiting for about thirty minutes alongside another driver in a gray Mustang. We were both sitting in our vehicles waiting for one of the working chargers to become available.
While we were waiting, another driver slowly drove past both of our vehicles. He could see that we were waiting, but instead of getting behind us, he continued through the parking lot as though he did not want to wait. He drove some distance past us before stopping, backing up through the parking lot, and returning to park beside us.
When the first charger became available, the driver of the gray Mustang, who was a young man, pulled into it. The other driver made no attempt to take that charger from him. He waited until it was my turn to cut in line.
When another charger became available, I started moving my car toward it. At the same time, the other driver also moved toward the charger, even though he had arrived well after both of us. I walked over to him and pleaded with him to move his vehicle. I explained that I had been waiting for a long time, that it was my turn, and that he knew I had been there before him. I told him he had no right to take the charger after arriving later than the rest of us.
He responded, “Get out of my face, old man, before I beat the s**t out of you.”
I felt threatened, and I was already extremely upset that he had arrived later than we did and was blatantly attempting to take the charger after the rest of us had waited our turn. It also struck me that he had made no attempt to take the first available charger from the younger driver. He waited until that driver was charging and it was my turn before attempting to move ahead of me. Then, when I confronted him about cutting in line, he threatened me while specifically referring to me as an “old man.”
I cannot know what was going through his mind or why he chose that particular moment to cut in line. I can only describe what happened and how I experienced it. At the time, I felt that he believed he could intimidate me and take advantage of the fact that I was an older man. That added to my anger and frustration.
I became angry, lost control of my emotions, and responded with language that I deeply regret.
That is the portion of the confrontation captured in the video that later went viral.
Afterward, I returned to my vehicle, got my phone, and called the police. As more people gathered, the situation became increasingly hostile. People who had arrived after the confrontation began were yelling at me based on what they had witnessed during those final moments. I no longer felt safe remaining there and decided to leave before the police arrived rather than risk the situation escalating further.
At the time, I was also going through a very difficult and stressful period in my personal life, including the prolonged illness of someone very close to me. That had taken an emotional toll and contributed to my state of mind that day. I do not mention this as an excuse. There is no excuse for the language I used that day. Many people go through difficult times without reacting the way I did.
For more than two decades, my family and I operated a cleaning business and served thousands of customers from many different backgrounds. I don't mention that to erase what happened or to ask anyone to overlook my words. I mention it because those few moments captured on video do not reflect how I have tried to treat people throughout my life.
To everyone who watched the video, whether you know me personally or know me only from those few moments, I understand why hearing those words would cause you to question my character, my values, and the respect I have for others. I am especially sorry to anyone who felt personally hurt, demeaned, or targeted by what I said. Whatever anger, frustration, or fear I was feeling in that moment, I should never have responded the way I did. I wish I had shown the judgment and self-control to simply walk away.
I know that saying I am sorry cannot erase what happened, and I do not expect everyone to forgive me simply because I have apologized or explained what led up to that moment. All I can do is acknowledge that I was wrong, learn from what happened, and show through my behavior going forward that I have taken this seriously.
I am committed to making sure that nothing like this ever happens again. Even when I feel angry, frustrated, or threatened, I have a responsibility to handle myself with restraint and respect. Moving forward, I am committed to making sure that my words and actions reflect the values I have tried to live by and the person I truly strive to be.
To everyone I hurt, offended, disappointed, or angered by what I said, I am sincerely sorry.
**Damien Verdin**
