DISQUS

Jay · 12 months ago

Appalling. Sickening display of barbaric human behavior.

When will this mindless consumerism end? How many people have to die?

cole3244 · 12 months ago

i don't shop at wal mart, i try and give my business to local stores or stores that at least treat their employees with respect, what a tradegy for this young man and his family, merry xmas from wal mart and its shoppers.

samiinh · 12 months ago

I, like you, refuse to shop at Walmart for the very same reasons. I think there are a lot of us, but unfortunately, not everyone gets it.

tallguy · 12 months ago

I respect your choice not to shop at Wal-Mart, but the truth is that this could have happened anywhere. Quite frankly, I'm surprised it hasn't happened sooner. It's a sad commentary on contemporary American society.

jcgraham77 · 12 months ago

It has happened several times in the past few years.

Indigo · 12 months ago

It didn't happen at Ambercrombie. It happened at Wal-Mart. The truth is it wouldn't have happened in most places. Quite frankly, I'm surprised you ignore that. It's a sad commentary on misguided benevolence that you didn't see that.

Dave of the Jungle · 12 months ago

Gives new meaning to the phrase "Shop till you Drop"

dula · 12 months ago

I've heard of stampedes in order to get into a holy site but never in order to get into a retailer...how uniquely American.

Toastie · 12 months ago

I agree that Wal-Mart is liable, but I've got to blame those in the stampede, as well, and all of us, collectively, who feel compelled to be in front of the big boxes at 5AM each year. We're not lining up for loaves of bread or cans of peas to feed our families. We line up for TVs and blenders and video games that, by no objective measure do we need. We might be struggling in tough economic times, but Americans are still a bunch of materialistic bullies.

twostepcub · 12 months ago

I'm kind of agreeing here. The cops really should have kept everyone in the store to investigate, as well as nothing should have been able to have been purchased. Sick. I hope those who did buy something have the reminder of that poor guys dead body on their minds to tide their holiday season over.

Rufus · 12 months ago

Wal-Mart will claim he wasn't hired to hold back crowds and was acting outside his authority and therefore assumed the risk. Case closed. Next!

OregDon · 12 months ago

Look, shopping is dangerous! Always has been. Here in the Coachella Valley of southern California, we had a shooting in a Toys R'Us this morning with two people dead.

When I lived in the DC area, one took ones' life in one's hands by going to Tyson Corners at Christmas time. A good friend of mine (of the lesbian persuasion) once let the air out of some woman's tires who'd grabbed her parking spot.

When you look at the sheer greed, anger, I-'m-going-to-get-my-share, makes you want to go home and stay there until after the holidays

:-)

MaudGonne · 12 months ago

Shots rang out today inside a Toys R Us store in Palm Desert, killing two and causing shoppers at the busy store to scramble for cover. Palm Desert Councilman Bob Spiegel told The Times that based on early reports, two rival groups shopping at the store had some kind of argument and then shots were fired. Two men were killed in the exchange of gunfire, he said.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2008/11/s...

cowboyneok · 12 months ago

" I-'m-going-to-get-my-share, makes you want to go home and stay there until after the holidays"

I DO! I stay home and shop when I know there will not be a huge crowd.

bkmn · 12 months ago

I, for one, hope the shoppers are held accountable. The store most likely has a video camera at the entrance and taped the occurrence. The police should confiscate the tape and identify anyone who was near the man and slap them with an accidental manslaughter charge.

There is NO excuse for this kind of behavior.

sigh · 12 months ago

One very simple approach would be to station police at the store to maintain order, just as would be done at, say, a parade drawing hundreds of people to one area. However, in my experience, municipalities would ask that the business owner creating the crowding pay for the additional officers' time. I guess that explains why it wasn't done here.

John's right. Events such as this are easily foreseen, and rather easily prevented.

burro · 12 months ago

Collateral damage. Don't get between the morons and their 50% off plastic crap.

jcgraham77 · 12 months ago

The only way Walmart should be responsible is if they didn't have any kind of physical barrier to protect their workers and were aware of the dangers of the crowded doorway--seems logical that they would set their doors to automatically open or something with no human needing to be in the line of danger. Im guessing they didn't try to protect their employee. With that said, these are humans--not cows. Cows trample people to death because they have no sense of reason. Humans have the sense to know if you push people and walk over them there will be injuries--thus they should be held responsible also.

MaudGonne · 12 months ago

Follow-up from this morning. Who said the bushies weren't creative??

Filed at 6:50 p.m. ET

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Federal regulators set a safety threshold Friday for the industrial chemical melamine that is greater than the amount of contamination found so far in U.S.-made infant formula.
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/washington/AP-I...

RitornaVincitor · 12 months ago

The captions under the photos of the mob posted on the NY Daily News makes me wonder if the crowd was totally innocent. "Hundreds of shoppers smashed through windows at a Long Island Wal-Mart early Friday morning..." Doesn't sound like they were necessarily pushed. "The unruly crowds stormed the store at 5 a.m." "Shoppers continued to pour into the store after the man was knocked to the ground before police shut down the store." "Radina Rmaidi, 19, explains how a crowd of shoppers stormed the store."

Rev_Sacrilege · 12 months ago

Merry fucking Christmas.

This is terrible.

magster · 12 months ago

Worker's comp. Family can't sue unless the guy was an independent contractor or unless the store was grossly ( aka "way-way") negligent.

ChicagoKid · 12 months ago

I someone shops at Walmart, they deserve anything that happens to them...short of having sex with Newt Grinch. Was it due to a sale on Elizabeth Hasselback sweatpants?

Doesn't the world have enough off-green sans-a-belt trousers?

I heard they had Blackwater doing their security. That explains everything.

sigh · 12 months ago

@jc:

I'm not lawyer, but it seems to me that "any kind" is too low a threshold (pardon the pun). Regardless of whether WM knew the size of the crowd the event would draw, it would have been clear at the time that the only thing between the employee and the throng was a single door. That is when, to ensure order, they should have placed a call to the authorities or sent someone out to disperse the crowd into smaller groups -- reassurring people that they'd all get a chance to shop.

The way crowds like this work is that when a door opens, or when it breaks, the people at the front fall forward. This sets of a chain reaction kind of like dominoes. I am quite sure that very few people involved in this, perhaps noone at all, made a decision to step on another human being. They simply tried to keep from being pushed over themselves. This kind of thing is well-studied, and people who manage facilities which draw large crowds should know about it.

jcgraham77 · 12 months ago

I dont' think there are any laws regarding this issues so "any kind" would infer that Walmart made an effort--the courts would have to decide if their effort leaves them liable. I have seen these crowds--a lot of the time these people act like front linesmen--they aren't just "falling"--they are pushing and shoving to the point of assault from the front of the line to the back. Once again, because of our inability to use logic and reason and behave like cows I am sure our governement will make these morning sales illegal.

Forty2 · 12 months ago

One more reason to abolish this "Black Friday" nonsense. Regular hours, no "door-busters", make sure you've got plenty on hand of the discounted stuff. e.z.

I think this incident says more about the people who get whipped into a frenzy over a fucking TV set marked down 40% knowing full well there's only 2-3 of those deals in the store, than about Wal-Mart, because most of the chains pull this crap.

People are generally ignorant, greedy, and cruel. That mindset has served me well unfortunately.

Shades · 12 months ago

Agreed. Remember the K-Mart blue light specials? If you happened to be in the store when they put on a special sale, good for you. No warning, no mob.

Asterix · 12 months ago

Next year, station guards armed with shotguns and a machine gun behind sandbags when the doors open. "First one to cross the line ahead of time gets it!"

Oh, the lawyers are going to have fun with this one!

And let's not forget the pregnant woman who was pushed to ground and suffered a miscarriage, with no one helping her. More lawsuits!

I make it a point to stay home on Black Friday.

mmedefarge · 12 months ago

I wish I were still a Walmart virgin, but one of their stores opened up fairly close to me and I finally went there a few months ago. Now the day I went was not a holiday or anything, and the lines were really long anyway. The person I was shopping with, who goes to Walmart a lot, said that this is the norm. I mistakenly lined up at what I thought was the end of a line and was roundly sorted out verbally by the people behind me, whom I hadn't seen: apparently the lines are always so long that the people in line have to leave an aisle open for people to get across the store, and then the queue resumes on the other side. On this day, it went halfway back into the store. I will not go back to a Walmart anytime soon....it was a really depressing scene. The people in line did seem angrier and more aggressive than I have observed elsewhere.

Bush_Bites · 12 months ago

Bunch of poor wretches lined up to get their shoddy merchandise.

Bush's America is so much like the old Soviet Union.

hrh · 12 months ago

Sarah Palin rally attendees.

RitornaVincitor · 12 months ago

Sounds just like PetsMart, but without the dogs peeing on the floor.

Disgusted · 12 months ago

The little visit I paid to Wallyworld today showed me just how insane people are over this stupid marketing event. And that's all it is, a marketing event.
Christmas and all its trappings has nothing at all to do with the birth of Jesus. It's nothing more than crass commercialism masquerading as a religious holiday.
There was a time in this country when Christmas was banned. Banned by professing Christians that took their religion seriously and did not use it as some kind of whore for commercial interests or political interests.

We live in a time now when religion has been completely reduced to a ten cent whore used to further commercial and political agendas.

Bush_Bites · 12 months ago

I figure boycotting Christmas shopping this year is my last chance to help make Bush look bad.

RitornaVincitor · 12 months ago

It's pretty disgusting, I agree. But I feel much the same way about religion.

Bush_Bites · 12 months ago

Behold, the Repub base.

No matter how poor the Repubs make them, they'll still fight like savages over their Chinese-made trinkets at Walmart.

Indigo · 12 months ago

Wal-Mart, where the murderous throng shops.

kevinbgoode · 12 months ago

I think the worst thing is...didn't they let the fuc*ing people shop? They closed the store, but from what I understand the people inside continued to SHOP after this man was killed and people trampled. . .and then they were escorted out to their vehicles with the valued merchandise? WTF?

Seems to me that every person in that store should have been held there until police started investigating the crime. And NO merchandise would be sold.

I cannot think of anything more disrespectful than a store full of frenzied, greedy people vying for the two or three discounted products available - right after they trampled someone to death. The store should have been closed completely and not one piece of merchandise moved.

RitornaVincitor · 12 months ago

Honestly, I think if the police had tried what you suggest, there would have been more deaths.

jcgraham77 · 12 months ago

LMFAO

cowboyneok · 12 months ago

Hysterically funny, but true and sad beyond belief.

RIPWAMU · 12 months ago

I agree. How did those same customers that trampled this poor man get escorted to their cars for their safety? They should have been held in the store until police arrived and video tape was reviewed so they could be arrested for murder.

Webster · 12 months ago

And the victim was just a temporary maintenance worker, probably some poor guy working a second job, or a third, just trying to make ends meet. Tragic beyond words.

cowboyneok · 12 months ago

exactly.

chowderSF · 12 months ago

I believe that the Best Buy here in San Fran, and perhaps elsewhere, was to be passing out only the exact number of coupons for the 'doorbreaker' deals that were advertised to the people who lined up outside the store, thus eliminating the 'rush'. Only people with the coupons could purchase the said items. Don't know how it worked out, but at least they were planning ahead

RIPWAMU · 12 months ago

It worked out good last year. Once they were done handing out coupons people could decide if they wanted to wait or not. Many left on to the next store and no one was disappointed once in the store. I wasn't there for those items, and my experience was pleasant. I was in and out in 15 minutes. There were plenty of police officers doing crowd control and they had a lot of employees at the door. They were constantly outside mingling, and I think they really helped the crowd stay calm. Everyone in line knew the process and they constantly kept everyone on top of what was available.

anarchy · 12 months ago

people there actually had the gall to COMPLAIN when
the store was closed immediately after this tragedy..

"b-b-b-b-but we've been waiting in line for HOURS!"

Wal-Mart is liable - as are the sheep waiting outside
to get to their Christmas crap.

it's absolutely disgusting, the way people are today.

Mum48 · 12 months ago

I agree with you. I'm not inclined to give the shoppers a free pass on this one.

chowderSF · 12 months ago

BTW, I also feel that the game stores play of only having, say only ten $299 laptops, when they know hundreds of people want in on the deal, is just wrong......they should offer rain checks to all those people who saw the ad, and made the effort to spend money at their establishment......

Nick_the_Dog · 12 months ago

We must look pretty good in the eyes of the world. Another shameful holiday story to make us proud. (snark)

Atlanta · 12 months ago

So how many deaths are deemed acceptable before cheap marketing ploys (eg, only first 50 bought at super special price) are deemed unacceptable?

RitornaVincitor · 12 months ago

Not to be argumentative, but haven't there always been cheap marketing ploys. Is America the only country that uses cheap marketing ploys? Are we saying that we should expect people to behave like this any time there are bargains to be had?

cowboyneok · 12 months ago

Everyone who participated needs to have their purchase tagged with, "I KILLED someone to buy this merchandise." I hope they are happy.

RitornaVincitor · 12 months ago

They probably haven't had time to process their emotions yet. Too busy filing lawsuits. Here in California I expect any minute to read about lines of asthma sufferers at local emergency rooms - their attacks brought on by seeing news coverage of the tragic events at the Valley Stream store. So I wonder if Wal-Mart is responsible, or the media.

Jon A. fan club president · 12 months ago

Wal-Mart has a LONG legal history of NEVER settling civil cases. They have an extremely large in-house legal team, and their lawyers ALWAYS play hardball. I Hope this guys' family takes Wal-Mart to the cleaners....but it won't be easy.

Older_Wiser · 12 months ago

The stores and the media are responsible for this "Black Friday" crap, IMHO. The stores allow people to "camp" overnight outside the stores in winding lines. Where was any security or the police for crowd control? There was NONE. WalMart employees don't volunteer for this kind of thing, either, they are told where to go and what to do. This poor man was sent on a death mission, alone, to open the doors. Of course, while I think it was their main responsibility, the mob mentality took over very quickly and I doubt there will ever be any criminal prosecutions. This man was killed by a MOB, not individuals, per se.

When stores advertise "bargains" and only have a dozen items at that price, they hold responsibility for crowd control because they're not virgins at this sort of thing. I don't know what kind of agreement WalMart had with Mall mgmt about security, but someone dropped the ball.

I sure don't intend to get out in the crowds--never have, and never will.

gymnjim · 12 months ago

until a jury awards the plaintiff the companies entire black Fridays profits, there will be no incentive to change the conditions that created this . A few million dollars. Wal-Mart spent more than that on the adverts. Paying out a dead employees family. cost of doing business.

tas · 12 months ago

Workers compensations says his life was worth basically nothing. and it has happend before.

Bruce · 12 months ago

True, but his immediate survivors may have other claims under some state laws.

Don Coyote · 12 months ago

I think this has gone beyond just looking for deals. There are people who are literally missing Thanksgiving by spending the day in front of the stores so that they can be first in line for Black Friday specials. National psychosis!

BraydenWicker · 12 months ago

More people should celebrate Buy Nothing Day.

Ivee · 12 months ago

www.nydailynews.com has a photo gallery of the crowd at Walmart. It looks to be at least 600 people, possibly as many as 1,000. Why didn't the Valley Stream police department point out that Walmart employees were likely to have crowd-control issues? I hope the deceased man's family will sue not only Walmart, but the town of Valley Stream and Nassau County for restitution. It was a failure on the part of local law enforcement too. How on earth could floor salespeople manage a crowd of that size?

RitornaVincitor · 12 months ago

Even bargain hunters have a responsibility to act like civilized human beings.

Dan · 12 months ago

The store opened at 5 a.m.??? Wal-Marts around here are open 24/7.

ndtovent · 12 months ago

This was a truly tragic incident, but unfortunately, it's not a new occurrence. I either hear or read about incidents like this happening almost every year in someplace or other. Sometimes it's sports events, sometimes at concert halls, etc., not just at WalMart. These business/venue owners need to get better security and a better handle on crowd control procedures.

RitornaVincitor · 12 months ago

Bargain stampedes are not unheard of, but more often we read of religious events where hundreds are trampled as they attempt to throw stones at Satan.

Mollie · 12 months ago

I did this once and never, ever again. I was pushed through the door by these crazy people. Nothing is worth the price people have to pay for these items.

RitornaVincitor · 12 months ago

(CBS/AP)
Kimberly Cribbs, who witnessed the stampede, said shoppers were acting like "savages."

"When they were saying they had to leave, that an employee got killed, people were yelling `I've been on line since yesterday morning,"' she said. "They kept shopping."

Items on sale at the Valley Stream Wal-Mart included a DVD titled "The Incredible Hulk" for $9.

horus · 12 months ago

disgusting behavior. consumerz KILL

Diogenes · 12 months ago

Hellave of a way to celeberate the birth of the saviour of or creator of cristianity...must have been the damn jews or gays.

RIPWAMU · 12 months ago

Excuse you?

JohnnyWaco · 12 months ago

No, John, the tramplers are at fault. Don't let your personal vendetta against Wal-Mart cloud your thinking so that these pigs are actually innocent. I've seen it all now, holiday Black Friday shopaholics shooting and trampling each other to death all over some cheap-ass Chinese crap they could have bought online. The last time I went to the Glendale, California Best Buy (where shoppers nearly flattened the doors down yesterday) I told myself "Enough!" The joint was filled with gang bangers and their pigs, gang baby buggies, SUVs, Hummers, gangsta rap, no space in which to breathe in. Now I buy everything online.

FatRat · 12 months ago

Someone filmed the paramedics/cops at Wal-Mart, on a cell phone.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmOy6mJQSIQ

RIPWAMU · 12 months ago

I have seen several different tactics at Best Buys that Wal Mart should implement. One is handing out tickets for the leader items (usually electronics) prior to opening the store. Once open, customers go into a separate line (Custmer Service at Best Buy) where they redeem their ticket for items wanted. Another is only allowing a few people in at a time to control traffic and limiting how many of each item a customer can buy. That would mean extra security (even better uniformed off duty cops) to stop the rush and perhaps blockading a path so that there are not 10 people wide trying to get in door at same time, only one or two.

Best way is to just try for stuff online. I think retailers may limit how many they sell online though because they want people in the store buying more than just those blockbusters.