A viral video captured a man pointing a loaded firearm at a woman’s face during a heated altercation at an Indianapolis gas station. The suspect, a North Carolina man, was arrested on multiple felony charges, including intimidation and battery with a deadly weapon.

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN (3-minute read) — A disturbing altercation at a Speedway gas station in northeast Indianapolis has led to the arrest of a North Carolina man who was caught on video threatening a woman at gunpoint. The confrontation, which quickly went viral on social media, highlights the dangers of escalating disputes and the severe consequences of misuse of firearms.

Police responded around 8 p.m. on Tuesday after multiple calls reported a “white male holding a black female at gunpoint” at a gas pump on E. 56th Street. The suspect, identified as 60-year-old Mark D. White, was arrested at the scene and faces a litany of charges, including battery with a deadly weapon, strangulation, and intimidation.

Witness Kevin Edwards captured the heated exchange on his phone, showing White brandishing a large silver firearm and threatening a woman who had initially been sitting in her car. When the woman exited her vehicle to address White after he honked at her, an argument ensued, during which White retrieved his gun, pointed it at her, and physically assaulted her. The video, which has amassed over a million views, shows White shoving the woman against her car, strangling her, and threatening to kill her, all while ignoring pleas from bystanders to de-escalate.

Police reports reveal that the woman also had a firearm, a black handgun secured in a holster inside her vehicle. She told officers that although she carried the firearm for personal protection, she never drew it during the incident, despite being in a dire and life-threatening situation.

Given White’s repeated threats to shoot her and the physical assault she endured, she could have been justified in using her firearm in self-defense under Indiana law. However, her restraint in such a tense and dangerous encounter likely prevented an already volatile situation from escalating further into a potential loss of life.

When officers arrived, they found both White and the woman near the gas pumps. White was still holding his firearm, which he dropped into his truck bed before being arrested. Officers recovered the silver Smith & Wesson 10mm handgun with 10 live rounds and observed visible injuries on the woman consistent with her account of the assault.

White admitted during his police interview to threatening the woman and forcing her against her car but claimed he did so because she approached him with a gun at her side. Despite this, White acknowledged the woman never pointed her firearm at him. He is now being held on a $30,000 bond at the Marion County Jail, awaiting his court hearing.

Witness Kevin Edwards reflected on the incident, emphasizing the importance of resolving disputes without resorting to violence. “This could have ended so much worse,” he said, urging others to think carefully before reaching for a firearm.

Safety Tip: If you carry a firearm, always remain aware of when its use is legally and morally justified. In many situations, de-escalation or retreat can prevent violence and protect lives.