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Clerk trampled to death at Wal-Mart

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11-28-2008 , 08:04 PM

#76

Mike Gallo

Oldest gimmick account

Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 10,996

Quote:

Originally Posted by qdmcg

do you know something we don't?

I suppose I did.

Quote:

A temporary Wal-Mart employee was trampled to death Friday in a rush of thousands of early morning shoppers as he attempted to unlock the doors of a Valley Stream, New York, store at 5 a.m., police said.

The man was 34 and lived in Queens, said Nassau County police Detective Lt. Michael Fleming. Authorities did not release his name.

"This was utter chaos as these men tried to open the door this morning," Fleming said. In New York, video footage showed as many as a dozen people knocked to the floor in the stampede of people trying to get into the Wal-Mart store, Fleming said. The employee was "stepped on by hundreds of people" as other workers attempted to fight their way through the crowd, Fleming said.

"Several minutes" passed before others were able to clear space around the man and render some aid. Police arrived, and "as they were giving first aid, those police officers were also jostled and pushed," he said.

"Shoppers ... were on a full-out run into the store," he said.

The crowd had began forming outside the store as early as 9 p.m. Thursday, Fleming said police patrols had reported. Just before the doors opened at 5 a.m., the crowd probably numbered at least 2,000, and when the doors were unlocked, "the crowd surged forward" forcefully enough to break the store's doors, he said.

The man was taken by ambulance to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Others in the crowd sustained minor injuries such as sprained ankles, Fleming said.

A 28-year-old pregnant woman was taken to a hospital, he said, but "I'm happy to report she did not miscarry, and the baby is going to be OK." The woman was to be released from the hospital Friday, he said.

Footage from the scene showed hundreds of people standing outside the store in the predawn darkness as police cars and ambulances ringed the building.

Asked about the possibility of criminal charges in the Wal-Mart death, Fleming said he would not rule it out but noted that charges would be "very difficult," as it would be "almost impossible" to identify people in the crowd from the video and that those in the front of the crowd were also pushed by those behind them. Hundreds of people probably lined up in an orderly fashion, he said, but got caught up in the rush.

Wal-Mart spokesman Kelly Cheeseman issued a statement saying, "We are saddened to report that a gentleman who was working for a temporary agency on our behalf died at the store and a few other customers were injured. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families at this difficult time."

The company is investigating the incident, the statement said, but gave no further details.

Officers patrolling the shopping center overnight had some concerns about the size of the crowd, Fleming said, and tried to get it a little better organized. Wal-Mart security officers were also present overnight, he said, but he did not know how many.

"I don't know what it's worth to Wal-Mart or to any of these stores that run these sales events," Fleming said, "but it has become common knowledge that large crowds do gather on the Friday after Thanksgiving, in response to these sales and in an effort to do their holiday shopping at the cheapest prices.
"I think it is incumbent upon the commercial establishments to recognize that this has the potential to occur at any store. Today, it happened to be Wal-Mart. It could have been any other store where hundreds and hundreds of people gather."

Asked whether the security present was adequate, Fleming said, "In light of the outcome, in hindsight, the answer is obviously no. ... This crowd was out of control

11-28-2008 , 08:10 PM

#77

RacersEdge

banned

Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 14,282

I figured it was a rough neighborhood before I saw the pics when I heard that one woman left before they even opened the doors because she didn't feel safe.

11-28-2008 , 08:15 PM

#78

Mike Gallo

Oldest gimmick account

Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 10,996

Quote:

Originally Posted by RacersEdge

I figured it was a rough neighborhood before I saw the pics when I heard that one woman left before they even opened the doors because she didn't feel safe.

Its a sick area.
I used to work in the Green Acres mall in Valley Stream.
Many East Coast rappers like LL Cool Jay, Run DMC, Salt and Pepper, and many others used to hang out in the mall with their respective entourages.It made for some fascinating brawls and adventures.

I remember when the original Batman movie came out, a riot took place at the Green Acres multiplex. A few people got shot.

11-28-2008 , 08:18 PM

#79

acethiest

old hand

Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 1,901

These stories are all too common, They happen all the time (although normally more so a serious injury than death).

Who is at fault? Walmart clearly for putting their employees and other shoppers in danger. I'm not picking on wallmart cause this happens at other stores as well. It doesn;t take a rocket scientist to figure out what is going to happen in these situations. I hope walmart get sued here for millions and that these ridiculous stampedes get to put to a rest as a result.

11-28-2008 , 08:56 PM

#80

Quicksilvre

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 18,841

Let's ignore Wal-Mart for a second here. Yeah, I hate shopping there too, but here me out:

It's 4 am this morning and you're off to the Long Island Wal-Mart. You get there and there is already 1,000 people there. You figure that after another hour another 1,000 people come. Who in their right minds, knowing that people waiting for something for hours will dive for it like the last life-ring on the Titanic, would even want to be there anymore? I'm talking about the shoppers, not the employees. Is it even worth it if you're fighting with hundreds of other people, one-on-one-on-one-...-on-one?

I don't understand people sometimes.

11-28-2008 , 09:00 PM

#81

suzzer99

Save the Cheerleader, Save the World

Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 100,714

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Gallo

wow...just wow...

great post

11-28-2008 , 09:04 PM

#82

suzzer99

Save the Cheerleader, Save the World

Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 100,714

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Gallo

Wal-Mart spokesman Kelly Cheeseman issued a statement saying, "We are saddened to report that a gentleman who was working for a temporary agency on our behalf died at the store and a few other customers were injured. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families at this difficult time."

Ouch. Temp job from hell. I'm not going to unlock the doors. Me neither. Hey let's get the temp to do it!

A buddy of mine was nearly electrocuted on some temp job. Burned most of his body, but spared his face. He's set for life, but probably would trade for his skin back.

11-28-2008 , 09:05 PM

#83

istewart

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Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 15,910

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quicksilvre

Well, based on the picture evidence we have, it is clear that many shoppers did filter out and the dregs of society remained in order to kill people.

11-28-2008 , 09:13 PM

#84

JuntMonkey

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 6,383

I look at this and am even more reassured that modern Western society is absolutely incorrect about almost everything.

11-28-2008 , 09:18 PM

#85

ham on rye

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 5,559

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrookTrout

Shocking that African Americans aren't involved in Hindu temple stampedes...

As for the Who - do some research and find out why comparing it to a rush to get $3 off the latest CD is ridiculous. My post was simply stating that based on my experience this (and last) year - the pictures weren't surprising: Feel free to fight the civil rights war again if you really want to.

Bottom line is Walmart could have hired a small group of security guards (which undoubtedly be company policy next year) and avoided this tragedy.

degrees of difference between stampeding someone for one relatively unimportant diversion or another are not the point. the point is all kinds of scum shop at walmart, whites as well as blacks as well as anybody else. and all kinds of scum behave irrationally and stupidly during holiday seasons and generally make me embarrassed to be a fellow human being. so the fact that you INSTANTLY KNEW who did it has nothing to do with the ****ing civil rights movement, it just has to do with you being a racist dick. and your weak argument to the contrary just demonstrates your lack of basic logical skills.

if you're going to be a nazi at least be amusing about it like istewart.

11-28-2008 , 09:19 PM

#86

2/325Falcon

Conehead

Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 21,799

If you're going to open the doors to a mob the expert play is to go out the back of the store, walk around to the front, and open the doors from the outside. Someone in OOT will go busto and need this info next year.

11-28-2008 , 09:20 PM

#87

2/325Falcon

Conehead

Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 21,799

Quote:

Originally Posted by JuntMonkey

I look at this and am even more reassured that modern Western society is absolutely incorrect about almost everything.

Allahu Akbar!

11-28-2008 , 09:37 PM

#88

sublime

Mr. Roper

Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 22,527

i am so glad i am not poor and/or an idiot on days like this.

11-28-2008 , 09:45 PM

#89

eazyNY

journeyman

Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 347

Quote:

Originally Posted by ham on rye

degrees of difference between stampeding someone for one relatively unimportant diversion or another are not the point. the point is all kinds of scum shop at walmart, whites as well as blacks as well as anybody else. and all kinds of scum behave irrationally and stupidly during holiday seasons and generally make me embarrassed to be a fellow human being. so the fact that you INSTANTLY KNEW who did it has nothing to do with the ****ing civil rights movement, it just has to do with you being a racist dick. and your weak argument to the contrary just demonstrates your lack of basic logical skills.

if you're going to be a nazi at least be amusing about it like istewart.

this made me lol

11-28-2008 , 09:45 PM

#90

sublime

Mr. Roper

Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 22,527

Quote:

Originally Posted by RacersEdge

I figured it was a rough neighborhood before I saw the pics when I heard that one woman left before they even opened the doors because she didn't feel safe.

i honesty think there were a reasonable amount of people in those photos who were just there because it was the happening spot of the day.

11-28-2008 , 10:16 PM

#91

revots33

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 13,477

Quote:

By 3:43 a.m., about 50 people had lined up in preparation for the 5 a.m. opening at a Wal-Mart store in Cary, N.C. Shannon Keane, 38, of Cary, who arrived with her son, Miles, 13, at midnight, said she was buying only one item today: an iPod for her son.

“He really wanted this one thing,” Ms. Keane said. “So we're here for this one thing.”

Ms. Keane, who was recently laid off from her job at an insurance company, said she was on a budget this year because her unemployment checks were also helping support family in Colorado.

spending unemployment checks on Ipods, another example of why America is f***ed IMO

11-28-2008 , 10:20 PM

#92

Noah.

banned

Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 20,057

Quote:

Originally Posted by revots33

Quote:

spending unemployment checks on Ipods, another example of why America is f***ed IMO

The best part about this is that the only ipod "on sale" at Walmart was the 8gb touch......for $227......which is $15 MORE than apple.com charges.

11-28-2008 , 10:48 PM

#93

LeapFrog

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 5,537

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eyedea

The best part about this is that the only ipod "on sale" at Walmart was the 8gb touch......for $227......which is $15 MORE than apple.com charges.

11-28-2008 , 10:49 PM

#94

Noah.

banned

Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 20,057

LeapFrog,

alternatively, before black friday, it was like $2 more expensive at walmart.

11-28-2008 , 10:51 PM

#95

Answer Anderstood

adept

Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 847

I was stuck in a mob once before and honestly I never felt so violated and helpless in my life. You have a wall of people in front of you who are moving very slowly and 100's of people behind you pushing you full force to try and get you to move faster. It takes 100% of your strength holding on to the person in front of you to keep from losing your balance.

11-28-2008 , 10:52 PM

#96

Noah.

banned

Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 20,057

but you were probably able to get away with a few A+ gropes, right?

11-28-2008 , 10:55 PM

#97

RacersEdge

banned

Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 14,282

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eyedea

The best part about this is that the only ipod "on sale" at Walmart was the 8gb touch......for $227......which is $15 MORE than apple.com charges.

and probably more than her weekly unemployment check

11-28-2008 , 11:49 PM

#98

99killed

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 6,191

Quote:

Originally Posted by Answer Anderstood

i was at a Henry Rollins show once and the crowd rushed when he came on. i was right in the middle and thought i was going to die. scary stuff.

11-28-2008 , 11:57 PM

#99

Victor

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 77,601

Quote:

Originally Posted by revots33

spending unemployment checks on Ipods, another example of why America is f***ed IMO

this is actually really good for "america"

11-29-2008 , 12:04 AM

#100

LFS

emo gaylord

Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 21,863

If people are going to spend their last dollar irrationally, I can totally understand and sympathize with doing it on the *one* present your kid wants. At least she wasn't buying scratch-offs or wine or something.

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