BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) — A viral video shows a man exchanging vulgar words and then punching another person in his car in a Walmart parking lot in Casper, Wyoming.
Steven Rangel was the person who was hit, and his boyfriend, Lord Asprek, was in the passenger seat filming the video.
“We thought they were really drunk or under the influence of something because we couldn’t even make sense of half the things they were saying,” Stephen Rangel said.
The couple went to Walmart to buy snacks when they heard three men yelling homophobic slurs both inside and on their way out.
“That’s… that’s where we start the conversation and that’s where he hits me,” Asprek said.
It was then posted on social media and quickly went viral.
After the video received thousands of comments, they learned that the man seen throwing the punch claimed ties to Bakersfield…and Cal State University. I learned that there is a close connection to Bakersfield.
Despite rumors that the man worked as an employee at the school, Eyewitness News reached out to university representatives who confirmed the man was employed by CSUB’s baseball program as an unpaid advisor in the spring. It was confirmed that he only participated in the
The university mentioned the video through Instagram and an X post (officially known as Twitter).
We have chosen to conceal his identity because the Casper Police Department stated that no charges have been filed and no arrests have been made in this case.
The university has now announced that his volunteer work has ended.
For Wrangler and Asprek, they want the Casper Police Department to find and arrest the invaders.
“We wanted to draw attention to the fact that things like this continue to happen. It happens to people every day. And fortunately, we want to help spread the word. We have a platform,” Asprek said.
CSUB Athletic Director Kyle Condor released the following statement:
“The actions depicted on social media are not reflective of CSUB Athletics. Furthermore, they do not represent my personal character or values…We will move forward together. ”
The couple said they still can’t believe what happened.
“I was shocked, like all these emotions hit me all at once, because it’s like, that’s not what just happened. And I was just like, you know what? “I was just as horrified as I was scared to see his nose bleed,” Asprek said.
Dr. Jeremiah Satalaka, co-chair of CSUB’s LGBTQ Affinity group, told Eyewitness News that it is alarming that someone would partner with a school to do something like this.
“Many people are upset, and rightly so. We live in very volatile times, especially for LGBTQ people,” Dr. Satalaka said.