Black Friday Stampede Kills Worker At Wal-Mart

Update: The New York Daily News is now saying that reports of a woman having a miscarriage during a Wal-Mart Black Friday stampede are unfounded.

A 28-year-old pregnant woman was knocked to the floor during the mad rush. She was hospitalized for observation, police said. Early witness accounts that the woman suffered a miscarriage were unfounded, police said.

From The New York Daily News:

A worker died after being trampled and a woman miscarried when hundreds of shoppers smashed through the doors of a Long Island Wal-Mart Friday morning, witnesses said.

The unidentified worker, employed as an overnight stock clerk, tried to hold back the unruly crowds just after the Valley Stream store opened at 5 a.m.

Additional reports from NY Newsday say the "34-year-old Wal-Mart worker died Friday morning after he was knocked to the ground after 'a throng of shoppers physically broke down the doors,' pushing their way into the store at the Green Acres Mall in Valley Stream, Nassau police said."

Comments

[starcane]

Here's the statement from Wal-Mart's website:

We expected a large crowd this morning and added additional internal security, additional third party security, additional store associates and we worked closely with the Nassau County Police. We also erected barricades. Despite all of our precautions, this unfortunate event occurred.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of the deceased. We are continuing to work closely with local law enforcement and we are reaching out to those involved."

Let's break it down:

"We expected a large crowd" - We knew our marketing was so awesome that we'd have more shoppers than anyone else.

"added additional internal security, additional third party security, additional store associates" - We spent more money than usual which eats into our profits.

"we worked closely with the Nassau County Police" - We even spent taxpayer money so we could make more.

"We also erected barricades." - We got the cheapest ones possible from the same sweatshops that make our products.

"Despite all of our precautions, this unfortunate event occurred." - Crap, we're gonna get sued.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of the deceased." - Oh yeah, there was a human tragedy. I guess we won't be getting their business.

"We are continuing to work closely with local law enforcement" - At least we don't have to pay them.

"we are reaching out to those involved." - Maybe if we offer a coupon they will come forward.

[SueEll]

Yes, yes, yes, you had security. But the important question, WalMart, did you make a profit? Ah, I'm sure you did.

[Lotus19]

"We also posted a sign "BLITZ LINE STARTS HERE"

www.dictionary.com

any swift, vigorous attack, barrage, or defeat: a blitz of commercials every few minutes.

[AlsoSarah]

They are so full of BS. The guy opened the door alone. Was there anyone outside of the door controlling the crowd? He was a temp. Numbers please WalMart. How many security guards were assigned to that door? How many were there?

[che1111]

What have we become?

[lucky54]

And here we are the people who had so much to say about people staying in lines to buy bread in Russia .... Yes they were buying BREAD!!!! We can kill for cheap junk made in China!!!! Hords of animals...and this is happening the day after Thanksgivi­ng...unbel­ieveble!!!­!

[jlover]

bush said....our enemies "hate our freedoms".­........if they saw this (wal-mart stampede) on their news programs.....YOU CAN SEE WHY THEY REALLY DON'T WANT WESTERN STYLE DEMOCRACY.......

[RedneckDem]

Uh... shopping is not a basic tenet of Democracy. Nor is capitalism. I dare say that you can shop anywhere in the world if you have the money.

[Lotus19]

Their stampedes are usually for food...not cheap crap.

[MatthewKeene]

They've seen it, or read about it. It is on numerous foreign websites. Including Al-Jazeera.

[SonyaInTx]

There is no sale worth stomping someone to death over.

I reember an elderly 70 something Wal-Mart greeter that got trampled last year in a Florida Wal-Mart. A shame. She lived, but was badly beaten up.

It's sad and shocking at how people in this country allow themselves to act like common animals when there is a sale on.

Since Wal-Mart has a track record of this type of mayhem, in the future, they need police and more store security for crowd control. A security guard with the local police visible need to get on a megaphone and announce to the crowd, "Any pushing/sh­oving/runn­ing/fighti­ng, and you will be arrested."

Problem solved. Then if the animals can't shop with manners, go home or go to jail.

[fussygorilla]

Sontya. You are suggesting the wrong remedy for this savage country. Instead of lamenting the vicious, greedy, and inhamane populace and culture and suggesting change, you ask for more police force to control the crowd? It is shmeful.

[SonyaInTx]

FG, you have a point. They can at least close the store. :)

Seriously, better crowd control is the only answer if they continue the Blck Friday tradition. Why not have a line and let people in 10 at a time, with proper police controlling the crowds? At least the Wal-Mart worker would still be alive.

Or pass out vouchers for the sale items so no bum-rushing is encouraged?

This will never happen, becaue after the lastvoucher gets passed out, the rest of the people will go bargain hunting elsewhere.

[TruthaboutIraq]

With a country that almost worships violence and aggression (Iraq), its no wonder its citizens are the same way.

[DotMatrix]

Good post, Sonya.

[StillAmused]

Ahh... the spirit of Christmas giving.

"Hope you like it, dear. We had to k ill a guy to get to it."

[breezyholler]

TALK ABOUT RAMPANT CONSUMERISM AT IT'S EXTREME !! Every one in that crowd carries some responsibility for this man's death....s­hame...sha­me....sham­e .

[Witchitalineman]

Wal-Mart has to take responsibility for much of this. How would you not have security of some type with such a huge crowd. How ashamed these shoppers should be for their crowd mentality and display of greed. Merry Christmas!

[Ares1]

This is the example of the pure commercialism Christmas has become and not a single stampeder came to the aide if the employee and the woman who was pregnant, what is wrong with these people, they care more about their cheap piece of s**t their are going to by that avoiding running over other people.

I don't think Wal-Mart really cares that the employee died, really, they have a crappy reputation with the treatment and compensation of their employees.

[McChimp]

Yup, Walmart doesn't care so much, they'll probably end up suing the man's family to make up for any losses that they will endure as a result of this, says a lot about the lack of ethics Walmart has!

[breezyholler]

Greed has become a sickness in America....that's what trickle down economics has done for us....90 % of the population have been reduced to nothing more than producers and consumers, who feed the pigs at the top of the chain...ENOUGH ALREADY !!!!!!!!!!

[Berkeleyan]

It is so sad. How can some people treat a human being that way, for a cheap material stuff that they may not even need! That's why we never go shopping on the day after Thanksgiving or even for Christmas because we want to avoid consumerism. The only Christmas gifts we give every year are checks (~cash) to our garbage men, recycle men, and mailman to show our appreciation for the service they provide us throughout the year. My prayer for the WM worker and his family.

[SonyaInTx]

The best sales are after Christmas or New Years anyway.

I don't go shopping on Black Friday or store closures. People come out of the woodwork and use a sale to act like animals.

No thanks. I'll wait for my sales off season. Black Friday isn't the only time you get a good deal. But those hooligans at Wal-Mart today acted like that's the last time they would get a deal.

Wal-Mart NEEDS crowd control measures fast.

[thegirlnextdoor]

I dont' understand shopping frenzy.
I have hated shopping for years. I'd rather play music! or read a book from the library.
It's probably my fault that the economy is tanking. I don't buy much.

[Leonard]

I am with you. Make most gifts and they are nice ones too. Also...all year I keep an eye out when I am shopping for great mark downs and get things all year if I do purchase a gift.

I maybe spend between 75 and $100 a year, do not feel guilty and people love their gifts.

[TruthaboutIraq]

Common Sense and Common Courtesy..­..........­.....thing­s that can be taught to a child growing up and sorely lacking in America it seems. Instead parents try and push some Buybull garbage into their kids heads.

Very sick indeed.

[Douglas1966]

Were any ARRESTS made? If not, WHY?

[LiarLiarIraqsOnFire]

There are only two reasons anyone at MallWart would call the police -
1. theft
2. Union Activity on their property.

[VOTER]

True.

[who38]

Bingo!

[TruthaboutIraq]

The reason the big stores are so profitable and advertise with some loss leaders is the pyschology that once a person gets in the store they will always buy SOMETHING.

Ikea has this system where you have to go thru the whole store in order to get to the exit.

Some mega garden centers here in Holland have adopted the same system.

[who38]

At my IKEA, the way to the exit is so convoluted, I often leave my purchases because I am so tired of lugging them around. Also, they charge for bags, so if I forget mine, I only buy what I can carry. I always leave something at the counter to remind them that I might have purchased more if their policy was different.

[TruthaboutIraq]

What truly is ironic is that many Americans rant about socialism etc etc when in fact THEY are becoming closer to communism everyday. One big store in every town............the company store.

I am also glad I moved back to Europe where we have many small businesses and they are protected from the likes of ugly Walmart by the govt keeping them out.

Competition exists here but few people are going to drive 5 miles to the next village to save a couple of cents.

[darylwalmsley]

You obviously don't live in a country that has been infiltrated by Carrefour, a.k.a. French Walmart. Yes, in the old city centers there will always be the small locally-owned specialty stores, whether the butcher, the baker or the candlestick maker to cater to the rich who can still afford to live in the old city centers, but as populations have increased, whether by birth or immigration, european cities have outgrown the old city centers, and suburban sprall is alive and well. Most of the local supermarkets who want to survive have adopted a similar business model to Walmart/Carrefour here in Italy. There are the supermegastores with groceries, clothes, garden supplies and electronics, then there are the intermediate stores, followed by the small no-frills discount stores. All three of these have different names, yet are all owned by the same corporation. The actual groceries themselves are the same, often made/packaged in the same facilities. Only the packaging is different. This is to cover all segments of the market: high end packaging with expensive publicity campaings at the big supermarkets for the big spenders who can afford to imagine that they are buying quality, and the same product in plain packaging at the discount store for the no frills spender. This is the result of years of marketing research, and like everything in america, once something works, it's quickly adopted by the rest of the world, especially the consumer-driven markets of Europe.

[racetoinfinity]

Too bad, so much the worse (tant pis) for Europe.

[TruthaboutIraq]

What you say is true but Germany booted out Walmart, thank goodness and I know France is full of Walmart type stores but they too are finding out it is hitting the small businesses which if actually the backbone of European economy.

[TruthaboutIraq]

I know about Carrefour,,,,,I bought a refrigerator from them when I lived in Luxembourg. Their stupid drivers could not find my address to deliver it and I took off from work to wait for them. I went back and demanded my money back and went to a small appliance store in Germany and bought one and the guy delivered it and set it up the same day.

[livesimply]

"The actual groceries themselves are the same, often made/packaged in the same facilities." Not true. There are many companies that are being responsible in terms of not using chemicals and destroying the environment to produce products. These include small farms in other countries where they don't use chemicals and dont' destroy the other indigenous plants and animals. These small farmers are getting paid more to produce goods which are chemical free and don't destroy the indigenous ecosystem.

[fussygorilla]

Daryl. Why are you defensive? Yes, there are Carrefours in European cities, corporate entities like in U.S. but what is NOT there is the unlimited GREED, INHUMANITY, AND SELF-CENTERED INDIVIDUALIST CULTURE that exists in U.S. That is more important than the existance of the corporate run business.

[McChimp]

Pat Buchanan and Not_PC represent the "Real America" Sarah Palin was trying to talk about - greedy white Republicans who need that new widescreen TV, that new XBOX, that new HD player, all the new disposable electronic junk that won't be used in a year from now. These unfortunate folks are brainwashed by the MSM and leaders like Bu$h, Paulson, and John McCain to "spend spend spend!" And how ironic that they mocked Obama for wanting to spread the wealth around to the less fortunate, when the wealth here is being spead to those up top!!!

What's even sadder is how many complained about waiting in line all night after the store closed rather than showing concern for the unfortunate man who lost his life. They care more about their SELFLESS GREED than the lives of their fellow Americans, Bu$h/McCain/Palin Republicans to a T!!!

[Lotus19]

It's nuts. I've been wondering if after the adrenaline wears off someone would go home and think..."what have I done", to care more about useless junk than the life of another human being. It's senseless.