07/18/2026
My Statement Regarding the Walmart Charging Station Incident
I want to begin by saying how deeply sorry I am for the language I used that day. There is no excuse for the words I chose. They were offensive, hurtful, and completely unacceptable. I take full responsibility for what I said, and I sincerely apologize to everyone who was hurt, offended, disappointed, or angered by my actions.
I would also like to share my account of what happened because the video circulating online does not capture everything that occurred before recording began. My intention is not to justify my behavior, but simply to provide the context leading up to the moment shown in the video.
There were five charging stations at the Walmart, but only three were working. I had already been waiting for approximately thirty minutes alongside another driver in a gray Mustang. We were both sitting in our vehicles, patiently waiting for one of the working chargers to become available.
While we were still waiting, another driver slowly drove past both of our vehicles. He could clearly see that two cars were already waiting for a charger. Instead of getting behind us, he continued driving through the parking lot, as if he didn't want to wait. A short distance away, he stopped, backed up through the parking lot, and parked directly beside us, in plain view of both me and the driver of the gray Mustang.
Shortly afterward, the first charger became available, and the driver of the gray Mustang pulled into it. I was next in line for the next available charger.
When another charger became available, I began 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 in line for a long time, that it was my turn, and that he knew I had been there before me. I told him that he had no right to take the charger after arriving later than the rest of us.
He then looked at me and said, "Get out of my face, old man, before I beat the s**t out of you."
At that moment, I felt threatened and deeply frustrated that he had just blatantly cut in line after arriving well after the rest of us. My emotions got the better of me, and I responded with language that I deeply regret. That is the portion of the incident shown in the viral video. I then 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 incident began yelling at me and criticizing me based only on what they had seen in those moments. I no longer felt safe remaining there. I made the decision to leave before the police arrived because I believed staying would only make the situation worse.
At the time, I was also dealing with significant personal stress and several difficult circumstances in my life. I mention this only to provide context, not as an excuse, because there is no excuse for the language I used. Many people face difficult challenges without reacting the way I did, and I deeply regret that I allowed my emotions overcome my better judgment..
For more than two decades, my family and I operated a cleaning business, serving thousands of customers from every background with respect and professionalism. That history does not erase what I said that day, nor should it. I mention it only because the words I used do not reflect the values I have tried to live by throughout my life or the person I strive to be
To everyone who watched the video, whether you know me personally or only know me from those few moments, I am deeply sorry for the language I used and for the hurt and anger it caused. I regret my words sincerely.
I know that an apology cannot erase the hurt I caused, and I understand that rebuilding trust will take time. Moving forward, I am fully committed to learning from this experience and ensuring my actions reflect the person I truly strive to be. To everyone I hurt, I am deeply sorry.
Sincerely,
Damien Verdin
