PALM BAY, Fla. --
A Walmart greeter who was shown on video getting punched by a customer has been fired.
Ed Bauman, 69, said the act of defending himself cost him his job.
Bauman went into Walmart hoping to get back to work for the first time since police said he was punched by a customer. Instead, Bauman said he was fired. His termination notice called the incident an act of "gross misconduct" and accused Bauman of fighting with a customer.
"They told me I did a good job of defending myself," said Bauman. "Then they turned around and fired me. I guess they just wanted me to stand there and get beaten."
On Dec. 26, a customer in red shorts set off an alarm while leaving the store. Bauman followed the man to get his license number. The man got angry and took Bauman's clipboard. Bauman said he tried to get it back and leaned into the customer who took a swing. Bauman said he swung back in order to defend himself.
Police said Bauman acted within his rights and was not charged. The customer was charged with a felony. Video of the punch also drew a lot of attention on WESH and WESH.com.
Walmart representatives did not comment on the firing.
The customer also claimed to be acting in self-defense. He accused Bauman of using a slur against him.
