A Wal-Mart worker died after being trampled when hundreds of shoppers smashed through the doors of a Long Island store Friday morning, police and witnesses said.
The 34-year-old employee, a temporary maintenance worker, tried to hold back the unruly crowds just after the Valley Stream store opened at 5 a.m.
Witnesses said the surging throngs of shoppers knocked the man down. He fell and was stepped on. As he gasped for air, shoppers ran over and around him.
"He was bum-rushed by 200 people," said Jimmy Overby, 43, a co-worker. "They took the doors off the hinges. He was trampled and killed in front of me. They took me down too...I literally had to fight people off my back."
The unidentified victim was rushed to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 6:03 a.m., police said.
The cause of death wasn't immediately available pending results of an autopsy.
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.
Three other shoppers suffered minor injuries, cops said.
Before police shut down the store, eager shoppers streamed past emergency crews as they worked furiously to save the store clerk's life.
"They were working on him, but you could see he was dead, said Halcyon Alexander, 29. "People were still coming through."
Only a few stopped.
"They're savages," said shopper Kimberly Cribbs, 27. "It's sad. It's terrible."
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5 comments:
The last line of your post said it. They're savages. Pathetic.
Pathetic, it makes me sick that people have disrespect for life. Is Christmas gifts that important? NO
Just goes to show the true meaning of Christmas is lost on the masses.
Well, I would say that there is a total lack of responsibility and sanity! People are totally self absorbed, that's the obvious. The poor worker probably left for work this a.m. and his family probably never even imagined that he may be killed in the line of duty. If they have surveillance of the event, some people need to be located and prosecuted! When I heard this on the radio this a.m., I thought, this has to be a bad joke! VN8
This is so sad. These people line up in the middle of the night to get a deal on a TV or gadget and it has nothing to do with Christmas. I refuse to shop on the morning of black Friday. It's not worth it!
Sue, Martha, VN8 and Jim ~ I just posted a video to this blog of them trying to revive the store employee... notice the LAUGHTER! Unfreakin believable!!
I really think those folks who trampled everyone should be prosecuted for murder!
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