A confrontation at a New Bern gas station escalated into threats before quickly de-escalating once a camera was turned on, according to a viral Facebook video.
NEW BERN, N.C. – A heated moment at a New Bern gas station last month is going viral after a white man was caught on camera threatening to kill a Black man while claiming he was a U.S. Marine — before quickly switching his tone once he realized the confrontation was being recorded.
The 36-second video, posted to Facebook on December 20, 2025, by Monae Bennett, shows the incident unfolding at the Circle K located at 425 Hotel Drive in New Bern, North Carolina. The clip captures the man sitting inside what appears to be a Ford F-150 as tensions boil over.
UPDATE (Jan. 13, 2026): Driver Identified, Speaks to The NC Beat
“It was one of those stupid moments, and I hate it.”
Those were some of the words Tony Orris, owner of Painting The Town in New Bern, told The North Carolina Beat after we identified him as the driver seen in the viral video threatening another man.
The driver, now identified as Orris is seen sitting inside a red Ford F-150 yelling at another man:
“You don’t know me. I’m a fing Marine. I’ll fing kill you,”
the driver can be heard shouting while pointing out of the truck.
When reached by phone Tuesday, Orris said he felt it was “stupid” for the incident to continue circulating online, insisting the situation was resolved at the scene.
“I really don’t want to talk about it because it’s a bunch of ridiculous stuff, and people don’t know the whole story,” Orris said.
When asked to explain what happened, Orris acknowledged there was “some racial stuff involved” but said he did not want to get into details, stating it would not be fair to either himself or the other man.
“This happened three weeks ago. Why do you guys want to continue with this?” Orris said. “We shook hands and everything — I don’t understand it.”
Orris admitted his language in the video was wrong.
“I shouldn’t have ever said it,” he said. “I apologized to him for it and everything, and we shook hands.”
According to Orris, the confrontation began when he asked the man to close his vehicle door while they were on the opposite side of the store.
“I asked him to please close his door. Some words were said, I got aggravated, then he got aggravated, and that’s what happened,” Orris explained. “After it all happened, we shook hands, said sorry — both of us — and walked away.”
Orris said his concern was that the open door could have been hit as other customers attempted to move through the parking lot. He also claimed the other man said things to him that he chose not to repeat.
“I’m not going to get into the racial stuff,” Orris said. “I’m not going to do that for him or for me. We shook hands, and everything was good. That was the biggest thing.”
Orris reiterated that he does not understand why the video has drawn renewed attention weeks later.
“I don’t know why everybody’s making such a big deal out of it,” he said. “This was like three weeks ago.”
He closed by again apologizing for his actions.
“I apologize for all of that, and I hate it. I absolutely hate it,” Orris said. “I wish it would’ve never happened. It was a stupid moment.”
As of publication, no charges have been filed in connection with the incident.
Original Video Shows Heated Exchange at New Bern Gas Station
As the Orris prepares to leave, he suddenly leans out of his window and begins yelling toward the Black man standing nearby.
“You don’t know me. I’m a fing Marine. I’ll fing kill you,”
Orris can be heard shouting while pointing out of the truck.
The man he was speaking to fires back without hesitation.
“I don’t give a f***. This ain’t slavery. You better watch it — I got you on camera,” the man responds.
Seconds later, Orris jumps out of the truck and approaches the man filming.
“I don’t care. What are you doing? All I asked you is to close your door — you understand me? Just close your door,” Orris says as he walks up on him.
Orris continues, claiming he didn’t want the man to get into “another accident,” a claim the man immediately denies. Still standing close, Orris insists the man’s door was open and says he nearly hit it.
The confrontation ends in an awkward silence, with both men staring at each other before Orris unexpectedly extends his hand for a handshake as the video cuts off.
