Man without face mask turns violent when he’s asked to leave Texas store, video shows
As states begin to reopen, the debate about wearing face masks amid COVID-19 pandemic appears to heat up — and has the possibility of turning violent. Especially in one San Antonio store. (video contains graphic language.)
On Wednesday, a spectator caught on camera a maskless man getting loud and confrontational when asked by a man at a ‘99 Cents Only Store to put on a mask or leave.
“Just because everyone is doing it doesn’t make it legal!” the man shouted as spectators filmed his rant.
The man goes on to reference Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s order that people cannot be fined if they’re not wearing a mask.
“We strongly recommend that everyone wear a mask,” Abbott said on April 27 in reference to a Harris County Judge imposing a fine over a face mask order, according to The Texas Tribune . “However, it’s not a mandate. And we’ll make clear that no jurisdiction can impose any type of penalty or fine for anyone not wearing a mask. Everyone should be encouraged, but by my executive order, it supersedes local orders with regard to any type of fine or penalty for anyone not wearing a mask.”
The man then begins to go up to customers who are filming him, shoving one man, prompting an altercation.
“Don’t record me that’s an invasion of my personal privacy,” the man is heard saying during the scuffle.
Police confirmed to KSAT.com that San Antonio officers were dispatched to the store “for a report of assault in progress” at 2:45 p.m., but no arrests were made.
According to KENS 5, a woman who said that she was with the man, “posted to Facebook saying they were denied entry after stating they had medical exemptions to wear a mask. She said nobody was ever hit.”
While Abbott has said that people should use masks, but they aren’t required by the state. San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg says that ultimately it is the store that has final say, according to KENS 5.
“Let’s be clear,” Nirenberg said. “The store has the authority to require a patron to wear a mask. And that is consistent with the governor’s orders, as well as orders here. Protesting the requirement doesn’t confer the right for someone to trespass. It doesn’t confer the right to disrupt the business, and doesn’t confer them the right to assault someone.”
This story was originally published May 15, 2020 at 12:54 PM with the headline "Man without face mask turns violent when he’s asked to leave Texas store, video shows."