Walmart Worker Trampled To Death Due To Black Friday Frenzy
By pyewacket
@pyewacket (43903)
United States
November 28, 2008 3:52pm CST
How utterly stupid! What is with people anyway? Yes, I know that the day after Thanksgiving is called Black Tuesday and when the supposedly best sales are held, but what is wrong with people that they have to act like animals? No, take that back, animals have more sense.
I heard on the news today, that a 34 year old man, a Temporary worker at a Long Island, NY Walmart was trampled to death after the doors of the store were officially opened at 5 a.m. They stampeded through the doors with such force that the doors literally became unhinged. Several other people were injured in the stampede including a pregnant woman who was also knocked down.
Here's a quote from an article I found
[i]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.[/i]
http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2008/11/28/2008-11-28_worker_dies_at_long_island_walmart_after.html
{Warning: This is NOT a referral link but a link to the article}
I mean yes, there are great sales on Black Friday, but why do people have to behave like this??....so much for the Christmas season of good will toward all...
19 people like this
63 responses
@nanajanet (4436)
• United States
28 Nov 08
Well, having grown up not far from that area, I can tell you that many friends of mine moved out of that neighborhood due to many low life people moving in. Real selfish and not so nice ones. Not to say that they are all like that but what used to be such a nice area of Long Island that people wanted to move to, most want to leave.
I hope they find every single one of them and put them in jail for manslaughter.
@nanajanet (4436)
• United States
29 Nov 08
I grew up in Richmond Hill, Queens. We moved to Staten Island when I graduated from high school, then to Howard Beach when I married, over to Woodhaven, then back to Richmond Hill, until we moved to Pennsylvania. I would no longer want to live in any of those places, although some are better than others, depending what section you are in. It is sad.
2 people like this
@Nhey16 (2518)
• Philippines
28 Nov 08
how sad....i agree with you, why do the people have to behave like that? do the people have set a time frame for themselves to be in the store, or it just thrills them to do that kind of behavior every Black Friday? But whatever they had in mind, I hope this would serve a lesson for everyone. I feel sorry for the victim, he had to die like that.
3 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
29 Nov 08
It's really not just on Black Friday, but people seem to be more rude and obnoxious during the Christmas buying season to begin with and takes the joy and spirit of the season out of it. Yes, I feel sorry for that guy too, and he was only a temp worker just trying to earn extra money
1 person likes this
@howard96h (11640)
• New York, New York
28 Nov 08
Bunch of freakin animals, shame on them all. I hope they find the group of idiots who did this on the store's video and arrest everyone who was involved.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
28 Nov 08
I hope they can catch the people too responsible. I think what makes people even crazier now is due to the economic situation..people are so desperate for a bargain. In all my years I've never shopped on Black Friday....just not worth being among the mobs of people
1 person likes this
@shamsta19 (3224)
• United States
29 Nov 08
Takes me back to when the Cabbage Patch Dolls first came out. People were killing each other for one of those things and now who remembers Cabbage Patch kids? People got hurt for those too. Just ridiculous!!
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
30 Nov 08
LOL--I don't know what the big fuss was about those Cabbage Patch dolls anyway....thought they were ugly...LOL. Guess the only reason they were popular cause they were considered the "it" toy to give kids..sort of brainwashing people that they had to have it.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
29 Nov 08
I'm not big on shopping period and certainly would never shop on a sale day. I do most of my shopping at the comfort of my own home on-line..so much safer
@redhotpogo (4401)
• United States
28 Nov 08
wow I'm glad I didn't have to work black Friday this year. I wouldn't have been standing in front of the doors with 200 customers waiting in front of them though.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
29 Nov 08
As BarbaraPrz said..someone had to open the doors..but I guess they just plain didn't expect what happened to happen in the first place
1 person likes this
@NikkiLuvsAlex (319)
• United States
1 Dec 08
That's very sad! I've seen holiday shoppers acting like crazy animals in the stores, including Wal-Mart. I've witnessed arguing, pushing, shoving, punching, all over some item on the shelf. Some people have alot of growing up to do and I think that it's horrible that people have to get killed this way.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
5 Dec 08
It's sad to think that the Christmas buying season seems to bring out the worse in people in general, don't you think?
1 person likes this
@highflyingxangel (9225)
• United States
28 Nov 08
That is really terrible. I really don't think the deals were THAT great for people to be that crazy to want them so much. They could have shopped online! Walmart's online sale began at 3AM this morning and they had everything online that they had in the store! So what was the point? We did go to a Walmart this morning because we wanted to save on their crazy shipping prices but I did order a few things online. It was easier and may have prevented that poor man from losing his life.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
28 Nov 08
Yes they have just as many sales for things on-line as well. In fact for almost all my shopping needs save food, I get on-line
1 person likes this
@Aurone (4755)
• United States
28 Nov 08
That is utterly senseless. It is sad that Christmas has become a commercial holiday so that people act like this. But you hear of other stupid goings on at Christmas such as people beating each other up over a toy or people getting mugged for in demand items as well. Such are the times and it makes me sad.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
28 Nov 08
That's why in some sense the Christmas season is a downer for me..people tend to be more rude and obnoxious then in their weird frenzy to buy gifts
1 person likes this
@TammyLynn (17)
• United States
28 Nov 08
Poor guy :( That's really scary. I was at Walmart when it opened this morning. There were more people than I've ever seen but nobody got hurt.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
29 Nov 08
Sure hope you weren't caught in any kind of stampede thing
1 person likes this
@underdogtoo (9579)
• Philippines
28 Nov 08
There seems to be no end to the stupid ways that people can act. I am deathly afraid of people when they gather about in large numbers. It can take very little to turn them into a stampeding horde. Many people have been trampled by such hordes.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
28 Nov 08
Yes people can act like a bunch of idiots in a lot of crowd situations,there have even been stampedes during sports events.
1 person likes this
@fwidman (11514)
• United States
28 Nov 08
I posted this disgusting news story in my blog. How sad 
The saddest part is that he wasn't even a walmart employee, just a temp that they had hired to do maintenance work in that store. I feel bad for the family he left behind. I hope the shoppers get nothing good for their Christmas presents!
The saddest part is that he wasn't even a walmart employee, just a temp that they had hired to do maintenance work in that store. I feel bad for the family he left behind. I hope the shoppers get nothing good for their Christmas presents! 2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
28 Nov 08
I know..poor slob..talk about that guy being in the wrong place at the wrong time. I also heard that as police were trying to administer help to the guy how even they were rammed into
1 person likes this
@tamarafireheart (15384)
•
28 Nov 08
Hi pye,
I think it so disgusting how people behave for few items because they are cheaper and I don't understand how dangerous they can be, I think they should stop theis stampede and next time they shou que in an orderley line and have security standing at the doors, its terriable.
Bright Blessings
Tamara
XXX
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
28 Nov 08
They actually did have security guards to try to maintain order but there just were too many people that came stampeding in to stop them
1 person likes this
@TenmaMetsuki (452)
• Bahrain
30 Nov 08
o.o.... I thought those stuff are only on movies _............. and we're being called the barbaric ones by those same people -w- tch, the nerve
Around here, no matter how much sales they hold and to what extent, the shop(s) do get quite crowded but they don't act like loose wild monkeys O.o are they really THAT desperate for saving a couple of bucks that they'd kill a humanbeing for it?! For goodness sakes', if it was Africa I'd understand since they're overly poor and all, but jeezes ppl get a grip -w-
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
1 Dec 08
People stampedes can actually happen anywhere, not just here in the US..what about the stampedes of people after a team loses in a soccer match in England. Think what brought out the frenzy more though is due to the really poor economic situation here..it has turned people desperate for a bargain.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
5 Dec 08
I realize the poor economic situation is actually a worldwide thing....but stampeding conditions and riot conditions have occurred in other countries, like in Haiti...where they had food riots
@TenmaMetsuki (452)
• Bahrain
1 Dec 08
Well, I can assure u that it never happens around here, in the middle east. The poor economic situation isn't affecting americans only, it's affecting the entire world, but I don't see the rest acting like animals for cutting their expenses a couple of bucks, and people are supposed to be even poorer around ere
1 person likes this
@ShortyAkbar (384)
• United States
28 Nov 08
It grinds my gears to hear about stuff like this. Ok, so everything is on sell, big whoop! There's no reason what-so-ever to run around acting crazy. People are blowing things out of proportion and it's getting people hurt. I mean, will it really make that much of a difference what time you get in the store?
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
29 Nov 08
I heard at some stores people began camping out on Thursday night to get their spot on line before the stores opened on early Friday morning.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
1 Dec 08
I hope somehow that the people that were responsible for this can be made accountable
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
29 Nov 08
This is EXACTLY why I stay MILES away from the stores this weekend. People are just flat out rude. The minimal savings you get are not worth it to me. It's a realy pain because my bank is right in the mall parking lot and I have to wait until the mall is closed to go deposit my paycheck in the ATM. I don't even like DRIVING around the stores this time of year.
1 person likes this
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
1 Dec 08
People are just terrible. You'd think they'd get some Holiday Cheer goin' on, but that's not happening!
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
1 Dec 08
Unfortunately people go crazy I think the whole Christmas shopping season to begin with...don't you find people ruder now then any other time of the year?
1 person likes this
@gtdonna (1738)
•
29 Nov 08
And to think people talking about not having money, but yet there is a mad rush during times like these. Then again, some stores are to blame because they make the customers believe they only have few of certain items in stock at reduced price, thus everyone is trying to rush in to be the firts to get one. I feel for his family and loved ones.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
1 Dec 08
The whole thing could have been handled so much better...security guards, cops and use crowd control measures that could have avoided this.
Wasn't aware Walmart is open 24 hours but then I don't have any around near me to know..the closest in Walmart store concept is a Target..wonder if they were mobbed?
@shamsta19 (3224)
• United States
30 Nov 08
I say this as well because ultimately it was their responsibility to handle the massive crowd they created. Police could have been called before they opened the doors. Security could have been in place. More doors could have been opened. Why was Walmart closed anyway? It's open 24 hours here (Myrtle Beach) and this particular Walmart was in New York, the "City That Never Sleeps?"
1 person likes this
@hdjohnson (2981)
• United States
29 Nov 08
I heard that story as well on the News. I also heard that another PREGNANT woman was trampled and had to be rushed to the hospital. I believe she was okay, as they didn't bring a conclusion to the end of that story. I agree with you that people can be utterly brutal and it can be seriously dangerous at the holiday season. I usually don't go out during the holidays for shopping, but I did yesterday evening around 4pm, and I was able to get quite a bit of items on sale.
The Walmart I frequented really didn't a whole lot of people inside of it. It was more like a normal sales day. Plus I don't think they opened up at 12am as the ones in the New York area did.
You'd think that they would do some more creative like do single file lines (like in old elementary school days) and allow only a portion of people inside the store at every 15 minute interval. This would ensure that the people would better behave themselves, and then give away vouchers for those who wasn't able to buy a particular item that only had limited stock in the store that day. But the store would honor the sales price as long as the consumer brought the voucher back witin a week or so, to give the store more time to stock up on that item again. It would practically ensure more sales that they could almost bank on having for that particular day.
I do hope we don't hear anymore violent deaths over the Christmas and New Year holidays...
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
1 Dec 08
Yes, I don't know why they just plain didn't organize things better at that store, and like you said here, have only a few people in at a time..the idea of a voucher would be a good one too..like a raincheck if something is out, but the person could get it another time when it's back in stock again
@blackcatbetty (555)
• United States
29 Nov 08
My hubby and I are sitting here drinking our coffee and sitting on our computers and I brought this discussion to his attention. Every year , there is a story like this. (as we both shake our heads) I think this is a good idea and I quote my hubby " The store should have been locked down and everyone in the store should have been charged with murder. " I agree. Even if you were one just riding on the murderous wave, why could you not have enough sense and restraint to hold back . Or imagine this , help the ones that are fallen and injured. This is where humanity and I do not get along. I am a little nauseous and I do not think I even want to go outside today. Now an entire family has to deal with a lose of a loved one , over the greed of these people. I hope the ones that were in that doorway will have to remember what they did. I pray for their souls, they killed over greed.
1 person likes this
@blackcatbetty (555)
• United States
1 Dec 08
True I can understand going with the flow to save yourself , or not being able to stop. Although , people don't know how to form a line? They can not grasp the concept of being civil? This is so sad to me. I have been in mosh pits and different things with mass amount of people hurling themselves around . You can not sometimes help yourself from being moved. I remember a huge guy just picking me and setting me down behind him , like I was a doll. Yet does this make it right. Is it then OK for that mass of people to have acted like a mob to the degree of murdering a person . In the heat of the moment all those people were thinking of was what they could get, afterwards then looking down at the trampled body beneath them , if they came out of their greed infested coma long enough to even realize some one was hurt, and it makes me a little sick to think how many didn't even blink an eyelash and went about their merry way. I am not saying everyone there is a bad person , but yet , I hope this at least makes people realize that their actions can cause harm and have. I hope some have learned from this. I also hope the family of the person that was killed can find peace on the holidays. Much
1 person likes this
@ButterflyBear (39)
• United States
4 Dec 08
I heard this on the news and in fact came to MyLot just now and was going to post it myself but decided to look to see if someone else had first.
Isn't it appalling that people can be so blindsided by saving a few dollars that they cannot even see the danger they are putting another person in? What is even more appalling is that this man had to have been stepped on by hundreds of people and not one person stopped to help him up or attempt to get him out of dangers way. What has this world come to when saving a few dollars means more then a human life? The items that these people were rushing to get could easily be obtained had they missed getting them even if it meant spending a couple more dollars but for this man and his family, no amount of money will ever bring him back. All of the people that rushed into that store that morning should be ashamed of themselves for putting monetary items before that of a human life.
1 person likes this
@ButterflyBear (39)
• United States
8 Dec 08
I find it strange but I have not heard any updates either. I don't see how they would be able to locate any of the people responsible and I definitely cannot see anyone stepping forward admitting to doing such a thing like this. I do not like shopping to begin with let alone during the holiday season. I do a lot of shopping online but I do also find myself at some stores but NEVER on Black Friday.
