A dramatic scene unfolded at a Costco parking lot in San Diego, California, after a woman’s response to being asked to leave the roadway and park properly was perceived as a threat, prompting claims of self-defense.
In the video posted on Reddit, the woman was seen sitting in her car, neither properly parked in a space nor moving in any direction. “Just drive away, please,” a voice from behind the camera said. “So don’t try to tell me to go away. I’m waiting for a parking spot. You are following me,” she responded, adamant about not moving while repeatedly insinuating that the people nearby were following her.
The woman was visibly holding her phone in one hand, apparently recording, while gripping what appeared to be a spray in the other. “We did nothing; please put away your taser,” the voices behind the camera could be heard pleading repeatedly. “We are not threatening you,” someone said, but the woman insisted they were forcing her to leave.
Despite repeated requests that she move on, she remained in the public space. Moments later, she raised what looked like pepper spray and began spraying while screaming, “Get away.” “What are you spraying at me? Why are you spraying something at me? There was no threat,” the voice behind the camera shouted. “Please be nice to us,” the person pleaded. Eventually, a parking space became available, and the woman moved her car. Even then, she continued accusing the others of following her, while they repeatedly asked her to put away the taser and mace she was holding.
The comments section quickly became heated, with users expressing a range of reactions.
“Don’t entertain crazy,” someone wrote. Another commenter fired back, “Nothing you said makes it OK for this Karen [Expletive] woman to pull pepper spray and a taser on people, so no, this didn’t backfire, op. This lady is a crazy [Expletive].” A third added, “We don’t need these kinds of posts. Pick your battles, man. This is embarrassing.” Others criticized both parties involved. “You both are weirdos, just walk away and stop recording. Be the bigger person, not an instigator,” one user wrote.
“The new golden age. Everyone filming their stupidity and posting it online,” another commented, questioning the point of sharing the video.
One user shifted partial blame to those recording, writing, “But while she’s clearly being ridiculous, just get back in the car… why involve the cops? Idk, it’s like they wanted to be maced or tased for more escalation and outrage.” “She’s unwell,” another stated firmly, while someone else aimed at everyone involved: “You both are [Expletive] tbh. Just leave her alone ffs! It’s crazy when people keep saying ‘this is public space’ and shove their cameras on each other’s faces.”
Another commenter warned against escalation, saying, “Even if the guy filming doesn’t think he is crazy….you are for picking a fight with one.” One user shared what they would have done in the situation, writing, “I’d call the police if she were threatening me with a deadly weapon. She hits someone with that with a heart problem and it’s sayonara.”
