Wal-Mart Employee Trampled to Death

[your_adress_here 11]

Wal-Mart Worker Trampled to Death

By COLLEEN LONG

AP

posted: 5 MINUTES AGO

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NEW YORK (Nov. 28) - A temporary Wal-Mart worker died after a throng of unruly shoppers broke down the doors and trampled him moments after the Long Island store opened early Friday for day-after-Thanksgiving bargain hunting, police said.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. 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 Wal-Mart representative Dan Fogleman. "Our thoughts and prayers are with them and their families at this difficult time. At this point, facts are still being assembled and we are working closely with the Nassau County police as they investigate what occurred."

The 34-year-old employee was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead at about 6 a.m., Nassau County police said. The exact cause of death had not been determined, and the man's name was not released.

A 28-year-old woman who was eight months pregnant was taken to a hospital for observation, where she and the baby were both reported to be OK, said Sgt. Anthony Repalone, a Nassau County police spokesman. He said four or five other people suffered minor injuries.

Police said the crowd of shoppers knocked the man to the ground at 5:03 a.m., three minutes after the store opened at the suburban location about 20 miles east of Manhattan. It wasn't immediately clear how many people pushed their way in. A metal portion of the door was crumpled like an accordion.

The industry's largest retail group said the incident was rare.

"We are not aware of any other circumstances where a retail employee has died working on the day after Thanksgiving," said Ellen Davis, a spokeswoman at National Retail Federation.

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.

Many stores open early and stay open late. The Valley Stream Wal-Mart usually opens at 9 a.m.

quote>

Wow... this is ridiculous...

[Easy Bakes 253]

They should close that store today.

[Goldfish4209 9]

Close the store? Burn that heretic, millions can be made today, nobody cares about that dead guy!

This is... odd... Seriously, there was something in walmart that was worth that much to people?

[Duke87 1,070]

This is why you don't go shopping on black friday.

[zane900 1]

black friday indeed.

[Hanson784 165]

That's terrible.

I also read a pregnant lady was trampled, seriously injured and had a miscarriage an hour or so later. What was in the store that people needed so badly? That they killed two people for?

Some people are insane, could care less for others or are both.

[JakeMD 107]

This is just another example of human stupidity.

[rainyday 2]

how are people so crazy????

[CarmineHilton 6]

Crazy Americans have never seen this in Europe before...

[un1 41]

Wow, just wow.

I mean, who is stupid enough to actually do that?

-un1

[cheese91 9]

What a tragic story...and all because of some stupid price reductions for a day. I never understood the big craze of Black Friday. Sure, the sales are great. But every single store is crowded. It must be so annoying to be shopping when everyone's packed like sardines. Some people take it so far, too. For instance, I went to the movies around 11:00 last night. There were people camped out, in tents and everything, outside the Best Buy that's right next to the movie theater waiting for the doors to open this morning. Ridiculous, if you ask me.

Anyway, this story is very unfortunate. It's sad that people cared more about grabbing the cheapest items than making sure that poor man was alright.

-Addie

[Bluepelican31 5]

Those shoppers got caught up in the mob mentality. In Indiana anyone that participated in the trample could be possibly charged with reckless homicide.

[TheQuiltedLlama 34]

Originally posted by: CarmineHilton Crazy Americans have never seen this in Europe before...quote>

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4252421.stm

[fukuda 351]

What was in the store that people needed so badly? That they killed two people for?quote>

Brains, I guess

[Mellowneos 0]

Every country has their share of idiots.  Killing a man for some discounted crap.  How sad.

[Jazzmaster 716]

Christmas is 4-5 weeks away...no way I'm rushing to buy gifts for people today.  Would much rather stay home and not go to the hospital...

[JakeMD 107]

Originally posted by: Yoshiisland Christmas is 4-5 weeks away...no way I'm rushing to buy gifts for people today.  Would much rather stay home and not go to the hospital...quote>

Everything will be gone if you put off your shopping.

[Geronimo 4]

Oh no, another embarrassing moment making me ashamed of being a part of the "western civilization".... 

Originally posted by: fukuda

What was in the store that people needed so badly? That they killed two people for?quote>

Brains, I guess quote>

 

That was incredible funny, you know that?

[pagenotfound 53]

Isnt the purpose of a species meant to ensure its survival?

This is utterly sad. Another example of human stupidity and greed...

[belfastuniguy 18]

Surely those involved should be arrested with manslaughter??

I think its utterly ridiculous this entire Black Friday consumer orgasm, fail to see why people are so anxious to get the discount, I mean hardly as if prices are going to start rising the day after, especially in the current economic climate, all that waiting and standing in line just to find the same thing cheaper in a week or so.

[Micah 16]

Why go to the mall when you have eBay?

[Easy Bakes 253]

Originally posted by: Yoshiisland Christmas is 4-5 weeks away...no way I'm rushing to buy gifts for people today.  Would much rather stay home and not go to the hospital...quote>

 

All my Christmas shoping was done by late october.

[coolotter88 2]

not just eBay, the entire Internet! On the internet, it's always black friday! Today's markdowns in brick and mortar stores pale in comparison to the everyday prices of online vendors.

[PhilsCafe 8]

Well that's just sad... shouldn't shopping be fun? That's why I never go last minute shopping for Christmas...

[metarvo 710]

Man, oh man.  That ain't cool at all.  That's what Black Friday will do, though, sad to say.

[Jazzmaster 716]

Originally posted by: SWAT-MEDIC

Originally posted by: Yoshiisland Christmas is 4-5 weeks away...no way I'm rushing to buy gifts for people today.  Would much rather stay home and not go to the hospital...quote>

Everything will be gone if you put off your shopping. quote>

I don't mean last minute shopping I mean shopping so that it's not last minute rush but I don't have to fight people off left and right to pick stuff up ya know?

[hamsterTK 93]

The result of excited people not considering the outcome of their actions: ie breaking down the doors and stampeding.

Don't judge

[Evillions 552]

Thats a tradjic stroy. I'm shocked to read this piece and really. Killing a worker for discounted price. These people has issues.

[dadyrghluv 8]

Originally posted by: TheQuiltedLlama

Originally posted by: CarmineHilton Crazy Americans have never seen this in Europe before...quote>

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4252421.stm

quote>

 

PWN'ed!!!

[Eastwinn 6]

I'm not poetic enough or literal enough with my feelings to describe them in response to this, so I won't. Honestly, all I can muster to words is that this is terrible.