Man seen using racial slurs at woman in Rostraver Township Walmart charged with ethnic intimidation

A man is facing multiple charges after a viral video showed him using racial slurs at a woman in a Westmoreland County Walmart, Pennsylvania State Police announced on Wednesday. 

State police and the Westmoreland County District Attorney's Office charged 36-year-old Michael Todora of Speers Borough with ethnic intimidation, harassment and disorderly conduct. 

In the video, which police said went viral on social media, Todora went up to Augusta Goll, an immigrant from Liberia who runs Queen's Market in Charleroi, and asked her personal questions about her finances before using racial slurs. 

Goll, a prominent business owner in a community that's been in the spotlight due to its immigrant population, said after the incident in December, Todora apologized by dropping a note off at her business. 

"Queenie, this is Michael Todora. I am sorry for my rude comment towards you," Goll, who also goes by Queenie, read. "This has become a nightmare. It's too much. I'm very sorry." 

She said she still comes to tears when she reads his apology. 

"To be honest, I was so scared," Goll said. "I was so scared, the moment I hear the N-word, and the animals, name-calling, it make my heart really drop." 

Goll said she was home when she learned about Todora's charges. She said the handwritten note was enough, and despite being afraid, she forgives him.

"I feel bad for him," she explained. "Probably they could have just given him a restraining order against him."

"How are you able to show him compassion, yet you were the victim?" KDKA's Mamie Bah asked. 

"I just want the law to take a little burden off him and give him a chance to put things together in life and think maybe. Sometimes when we do things, after some time, our minds and everything will reset," Goll said.

Rostraver Township police handled the original incident, but state police said it was later referred to the criminal investigation unit. In a news release last month, state police said investigators were conducting multiple interviews and gathering multiple pieces of evidence. The FBI was also involved in the investigation, police said. 

While police announced charges against Todora on Wednesday, troopers said the investigation is still ongoing. Authorities didn't release any other information.