Wal-Mart worker dies after shoppers knock him down By COLLEEN LONG, Associated Press Writer Colleen Long, Associated Press Writer – Fri Nov 28, 5:15 pm ET
NEW YORK – A Wal-Mart worker was killed Friday when "out-of-control" shoppers desperate for bargains broke down the doors at a 5 a.m. sale. Other workers were trampled as they tried to rescue the man, and customers shouted angrily and kept shopping when store officials said they were closing because of the death, police and witnesses said.
At least four other people, including a woman who was eight months pregnant, were taken to hospitals for observation or minor injuries, and the store in Valley Stream on Long Island closed for several hours before reopening.
Shoppers stepped over the man on the ground and streamed into the store. When told to leave, they complained that they had been in line since Thursday morning.
Nassau police said about 2,000 people were gathered outside the store doors at the mall about 20 miles east of Manhattan. The impatient crowd knocked the man, identified by police as Jdimytai Damour of Queens, to the ground as he opened the doors, leaving a metal portion of the frame crumpled like an accordion.
"This crowd was out of control," said Nassau police spokesman Lt. Michael Fleming. He described the scene as "utter chaos."
Dozens of store employees trying to fight their way out to help Damour were also getting trampled by the crowd, Fleming said.
Items on sale at the store included a Samsung 50-inch Plasma HDTV for $798, a Bissel Compact Upright Vacuum for $28, a Samsung 10.2 megapixel digital camera for $69 and DVDs such as "The Incredible Hulk" for $9.
Damour, 34, was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead about 6 a.m., police said. The exact cause of death has not been determined.
A 28-year-old pregnant woman was taken to a hospital, where she and the baby were reported to be OK, said police Sgt. Anthony Repalone.
Police said criminal charges were possible in the case, but Fleming said it would be difficult to identify individual shoppers. Authorities were reviewing surveillance video.
Wal-Mart Stores Inc., based in Bentonville, Ark., called the incident a "tragic situation" and said the employee came from a temporary agency and was doing maintenance work at the store.
"The safety and security of our customers and associates is our top priority," said Dan Fogleman, a company spokesman. "At this point, facts are still being assembled and we are working closely with the Nassau County Police as they investigate what occurred."
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."
Shoppers around the country line up early outside stores on the day after Thanksgiving in the annual bargain-hunting ritual known as Black Friday. It got that name because it has historically been the day when stores broke into profitability for the full year.
Hear about the two guys who shot each other in Toys-R-Us? Their wives were fighting over a tool, the husbands ran up and both pulled pistols and shot each other. Dead. Guns should be banned.
Holiday schedules start in a couple weeks. My shift starts at 1325 with a minimum 10 work hours. Luckily I got Sunday as my day off. It will sure help pay for Xmas presents.
I felt compelled to add this after reading many blogs in the past day. I've read many people who make it sound like we're damned as a nation because of this election.
Are abortions going to continue? Yes.
Is homosexuality going to become more accepted? Yes. (Although I think all 3 states that had proposals to ban it passed their initiatives.)
But, what have Republican leaders (the so-called conservative party) done about these two moral issues? Nothing. Six years of a Republican controlled Congress with a two-term Republican President has kept us mired in the same cesspool of immorality as a nation. John McCain would have done nothing to get us out of this cesspool, but I suspect many people who are deploring Obama on these issues would express satisfaction if the election went the other way. I think we've entrenched ourselves too deep in party lines if this is the case.
If we are damned as a nation, it will not because of what happened on November 4, 2008. It will be because WE, as individuals, have not talked to our neighbors about God. It will be because WE, as individuals, have not taught our coworkers the only way to salvation. It will be because WE, as individuals, have shirked the commission Jesus gave to go into the world and preach the Gospel.
We WILL NOT make this a moral nation by electing a certain president. We could elect an entire Congress of moral individuals who respect life and marriage, and that wouldn't make us a moral nation. The citizens of this nation will continue to sin, regardless of any laws that man puts into place. Women killed their children before Roe v. Wade and, if it's repealed, they'll still continue to kill their children. We can't enact laws to enforce morality and expect that to bind people. We have to TEACH people what the truth is. We have to TEACH people what our Creator has said about abortion, marriage, homosexuality, etc.. Government is not in place to take over OUR responsibility to teach what is moral.
Whatever form of government this nation elects, be it liberal, conservative, socialist, or communist, should of no great concern to us. What should be of the utmost concern is the immorality that surrounds us everyday. In our states, our communities, and even our own houses via the television and internet. Contend for the faith, stand up for truth and preach against sin, regardless of what is politically correct. Once we stop being "Sunday Christians" and start being a true follower of Christ as we're commanded to be, then we'll see change. And if we have fought earnestly for God and only our families have been found faithful, then, like Lot and his family, we will be saved.
Is it illegal to say "Homosexuality is a sin" or "Homosexuals are horrible people" there is a difference. One is supported by the Bible, the other is hateful. I don't know much about Canada though
I'm glad the election is finally over and everyone can get back to life as usual. A new president isn't really going to change our individual lives in any way, regardless of their political affiliation.
It's exciting to see a black president in America. It's also exciting, atleast to me, that McCain/Palin will not be in the White House. I'm convinced from all the nonsensical and illogical responses that she gave in interviews and speeches that Sarah Palin is a moron. Of course, that's not much different than our president of the last 8 years.
Again, to reemphasize to the 3 people who read my blog, see first paragraph. God's in control of this country, not the Republocrats. In Kansas, Baldwin got 4,000 votes and Barr got 6,500...less than 1% combined. Maybe in my lifetime we'll break the two-party monopoly and get some truly conservative candidates in office, not the Neocons we see today.
I'm glad it's over. Here's what's been happening in our world, unaffected and unchanged by any politician...
Every morning, for the past 2 weeks, Jonah comes into our room and asks us to turn on his current favorite movie, "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown". When he went trick-or-treating, he was talking about the great pumpkin. Then, he finally saw the Great Pumpkin.
I'm having to redo some plumbing in the shower at the house. So far, this week, I installed a new subfloor in the bathroom, had the countertops built and installed, replaced wax ring around the toilet, and finished patching and mudding the family room (with a lot of help). We have a little more painting to do Wednesday, along with getting all the plumbing done (hopefully). Thursday I'm installing the oak laminate floors in the kitchen, Friday the carpet is being installed, and Saturday we move. I have next Tuesday (Veteran's Day) off of work, so I will have a nice 3 day weekend to relax in our newly remodeled house.
dude i wish i would have watched It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown this year. congrats on the house and doing so much work on it yourself. i wouldn't know where to start.
