A disturbing video captured a heart-pounding exchange between a white man and Black woman after she confronts him at an Indiana gas station. According to Indianapolis Metropolitan Police, the conflict began when 21-year-old Tashauna Gooch said she drove up to a disabled gas pump on Jan. 21.
According to Fox News, Gooch told authorities she parked her car next to the non-working gas pump, and that’s when she noticed a Dodge Ram pull up behind her. From there, the vehicle started honking, so she pulled her car forward, parked, and got out to confront the driver.
“I was sitting at the pump that wasn’t even working, and he pulled up telling me to move all aggressive,” Gooch told IndyStar. “I asked him what his problem was and he started calling me all types of N-words and threatening me... Basically, I was at the pump too long for him.”
Gooch confessed she had a gun on her, but she kept it by her side during the confrontation. And when the truck driver saw her weapon, things quickly took a dangerous turn. The man, identified as 60-year-old Mark White, reportedly told Gooch “I got a way bigger firearm” and retrieved his own weapon from his vehicle, according to reports.
“There’s no need for a way bigger firearm,” Gooch reportedly responded while trying to de-escalate the situation. But by this time, it was too late. White allegedly told the woman “I will kill you,” and proceeded to attack her, according to Fox.
He then allegedly grabbed Gooch by her throat, pushed her against her car door, and began strangling her. At this point, several bystanders started filming the two and calling the cops. Gooch continued saying White pointed his gun at her head and even hit her in the face with it, reports Fox. Responding officers later noted marks on Gooch’s neck and a scratch on her head likely caused by White’s weapon, according to the affidavit obtained by IndyStar.
“I walked her back over to the car at gunpoint and told her I will f*****g blow her head off,” White later told police. “I said ‘I will f*****g shoot you.’” He also admitted Gooch never pointed her gun at him, and she even tossed her weapon back into her car in more efforts to de-escalate the situation.
At some point, video captured by a witness shows White walking back towards his car while Gooch continued yelling at him. White then turns around and points his gun at the woman’s face, holding the weapon with both hands.
Several bystanders attempted to get involve, repeatedly telling Gooch to drive off and for the man to get back in his vehicle, but Gooch later said she remained on the scene because she wanted witnesses, which might not have been possible if she drove off and White followed her.
“I have too much to live for and I’m not going to shoot somebody for calling me the N-word,” Gooch continued. “I had witnesses and I wanted the police to come. He went to jail and that was what was supposed to happen. I’m just happy we’re both still here.”
When police arrived, they placed both parties in handcuffs. White was later arrested and charged with criminal confinement, intimidation, pointing a firearm, strangulation, and criminal recklessness, according to Fox.