Racist viral video is under investigation by state police
A local business owner said a man shouted racial slurs at her in the video.
A viral video filled with racial slurs directed to a Charleroi business owner was recorded inside Walmart in Rostraver Township just before Christmas.
The video was posted online, leading the woman targeted to file a police report that has prompted an investigation by Pennsylvania State Police.
State police said the incident was recorded on video and later posted to Facebook.
The initial report was taken by Rostraver Township Police before the case was transferred to state police because of other reported encounters involving the same man across multiple jurisdictions.
The woman told WPXI that the man approached her inside the store while recording a video and repeatedly directed racial slurs at her.
She said her immediate reaction was to get away from the man, leave the store and head into the parking lot, where she began livestreaming on Facebook about what had just happened.
According to WPXI, the woman later learned the man posted his video to social media. She said seeing it again was deeply upsetting.
She filed a report with Rostraver Township Police.
State police said they are now working jointly with Rostraver Township Police, the FBI and local district attorney’s offices as part of the investigation.
The woman told WPXI that the man later came to her Charleroi business and left an apology note. He also apologized on his social media pages.
While the incident has left her shaken, she said she has been grateful for the support she has received from the community.
“I want to publicly say thank you,” she said. “All types of people. Black, white, Indian, everybody. Young, old, everybody. In times of something like this, they stand for the right, they stand by you.”
Pennsylvania State Police said anyone with information related to the incident is asked to contact PSP Belle Vernon at 724-929-6262.
Neither the man nor the victim have been identified by law enforcement.
The investigation remains active, and no criminal charges have been filed.
