Black Friday Takes on New Meaning … WALMART Worker Trampled to Death in Black Fridays Stampede in Long Island, NY

 

Savage behavior at Long Island Wal-Mart … Where to go on Black Friday for bargains. The Valley Stream Wal-Mart should not have been on the list.

Folks, is it worth killing someone to get a bargain? Is the purchase of any material gift worth trampling over your fellow man? Does anyone think that maybe everyone needs to step back and take a long hard and good look as to what is the “reason for the season.” 

What the hell is the matter with people? What the hell is the matter with stores that would allow shoppers to pile in by the 100’s at once as if it was a 1970’s Who concert? A WALMART employee was trampled to death and a woman miscarried when hundreds of shoppers charged through the doors at a Valley Stream, Long Island Walmart.

WTF … Peace on Earth Good Will Toward Man???

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.

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.”

Maybe they would even like to listen to Linus Van Pelt as to what Christmas is all about

“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, ‘Fear not: for behold, I bring unto you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.’”

UPDATE I: Mall Madness! Worker Trampled by Shoppers, Dies

Everyone says “Black Friday” is the day to shop until you drop, but police in Valley Stream, N.Y., were forced to take that message literally.

Detectives said a 34-year-old Walmart employee died when a throng of shoppers entering the store on Green Acres Road knocked him to the ground.

The victim was taken to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead just after 6 a.m., police said. A medical examiner will determine the cause of death.

UPDATE II: ‘Black Friday:’ Three dead so far

UPDATE III: Sought: Wal-Mart shoppers who trampled NY worker

As if anyone that acted so irresponsible as to trample people to death would actually come forward and state they were at the store. Please, that requires character.

Police were reviewing video from surveillance cameras in an attempt to identify who trampled to death a Wal-Mart worker after a crowd of post-Thanksgiving shoppers burst through the doors at a suburban store and knocked him down.

Criminal charges were possible, but identifying individual shoppers in Friday’s video may prove difficult, said Detective Lt. Michael Fleming, a Nassau County police spokesman.

Police are reviewing surveillance cameras in an attempt to identify the people who trampled Jdimytai Damour to death in an effort to prosecute. As Hot Air also states this hardly seems likely due to actually identifying those responsible and trying to determine intent. However, one wonders if neglidence charges will be brought against Wal-Mart. The fact that a “Blitz Line” sign was actially posted outside the store in retrospect is questionable at best.

VIDEO

Criminal charges were possible, but identifying individual shoppers in Friday’s video may prove difficult, said Detective Lt. Michael Fleming, a Nassau County police spokesman.

Other workers were trampled as they tried to rescue the man, and customers stepped over him and became irate when officials said the store was 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. The store in Valley Stream on Long Island closed for several hours before reopening.

Police said about 2,000 people were gathered outside the Wal-Mart doors before its 5 a.m. opening at a mall about 20 miles east of Manhattan. The impatient crowd knocked the employee, identified by police as Jdimytai Damour, to the ground as he opened the doors, leaving a metal portion of the frame crumpled like an accordion.



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  • Comments

    31 Responses to “Black Friday Takes on New Meaning … WALMART Worker Trampled to Death in Black Fridays Stampede in Long Island, NY”

    1. Richard on November 28th, 2008 9:55 am

      Gracious, did that woman give birth right there?
      Did anyone even notice, or were they too concerned about what bargains were available?

      I don’t think that stores usually open at 4 a.m., as seems to be the custom on this day. Maybe it’s time to return to sanity.

      And honestly, a woman that close to giving birth is, in my opinion, acting unwisely (to say the least) in going to a mob scene like that.

    2. Susan on November 28th, 2008 10:00 am

      The loss of two lifes at this Walmart is a horrifying tragedy!! There’s no need for people to act like brutal savages on Black Friday just to save a few bucks and end up killing two people in the process. What is this world coming to?

    3. Susan on November 28th, 2008 10:12 am

      Good morning Richard – When a woman has a miscarriage typical it means she lost the baby. Miscarriage is most common during the first three months of pregnancy, but I’m assuming it can happen at any time. Guess we’ll hear more about this senseless horror on the news :-(

    4. Michelle on November 28th, 2008 10:27 am

      Good Lord! What is the world coming to? Those people were acting like savages. That is the stupidest thing I’ve seen in a while. There is NO SALE worth someone’s life. What is wrong with people. I think these stores need to stop doing this kind of thing. This is such a tragedy that could have been avoided.

      How sad :(

    5. x39000 on November 28th, 2008 10:44 am

      I can’t wait till they find who stepped on the guy when he was down…I wish they still had public stonings.. Id throw one between his/her eyes.

    6. Susan on November 28th, 2008 10:44 am

      Michelle – I agree! After Walmart is sued for the wrongful deaths of both individuals whose lives were tragically losts this morning, hopefully we will see changes in retail store policies. It’s such a shame it had to come to this :-(

    7. Cindy on November 28th, 2008 11:31 am

      My mom and sister were in Valley Stream this morning, but I’m glad they didn’t go to the Walmart there! If either of them were trampled or if my sis miscarried…there’s no telling what I’d do! My condolences to that security guard’s family. I heard that they can’t even press charges against the people who trampled over him because there were just too many of them and they can’t pinpoint who killed him exactly, which is ridiculous. If they were stupid enough to trample over a living breathing human being, then they deserve to be jailed!

    8. caesu on November 28th, 2008 11:46 am

      kapitalistic greed gone wild.
      same happens in the middle-east, where entire countries get trampled on for oil.
      the people copy what their leaders do.

    9. Kojo on November 28th, 2008 12:25 pm

      I feel the Valley Stream walmart did not take the necessary steps prior to their doors being open. Cops, ambulances and the fire department did not arrive until that unruly behavior by customers. At the Uniondale walmart, cops along with undercover officers were at hand in anticipation of what was to come. I believe same precautions and steps could have been implemented by the valley stream walmart.

    10. txchic on November 28th, 2008 1:02 pm

      i avoid these sales. the one time i did go to a promotion it included a bunch of idiots that were merely there for the free gift bags for attending.

      a person really needs to weigh the value of the time they spend waiting in lines & in traffic to save a few bucks. now you add the risk to your health & even life. i’d rather pay full price than mess with this.

    11. cc on November 28th, 2008 1:06 pm

      this is NOT footage of what happened this morning at the Walmart in Valley Stream. Shame on the author of this website.

    12. cc on November 28th, 2008 1:08 pm

      Yea, “waiting for moderation”..that means you’re screwy enough to want people to believe in your lies. I see you loved & published the racist remarks..

    13. Michelle on November 28th, 2008 1:25 pm

      #11

      What the heck are you talking about? I don’t see any racist remarks.

    14. caesu on November 28th, 2008 2:46 pm

      Police: Two Killed in Palm Desert Toys R Us Shooting

      http://www.knx1070.com/Police–Two-Killed-in-Palm-Desert-Toys-R-Us-Shooti/3400555

    15. Greg on November 28th, 2008 4:09 pm

      Richard, Just because a woman is pregnant doesn’t mean the she is not intitled to the same rights that everyone else is intitled to. It is a shame that the world is that uterly rude.

    16. katablog.com on November 28th, 2008 4:11 pm

      Richard: it’s just wrong to blame the victim. Though once one sees the pictures of outside that WalMart they would be stupid not to have gotten the heck out of there. And yes, I agree that the store itself is also responsible, again based on pictures (see 3 and 5)outside that store. One would have to know that was trouble.

      Though the very people who did the pushing and shoving also bear responsibility for the death of these two people. Anyone that would stomp over someone for a bargain doesn’t belong in the human race.

      Doesn’t anyone else see that this is becoming what our society is like? We don’t care how our politicians win, we don’t care what our Presidents do if they are the one we support, we call each other names and ridicule each other, kill our own kids (both born and unborn), we see killing and violence as entertainment and we have little respect for the rule of law (illegals, San Francisco gays). It’s becoming all about “me” and “what I want”.

    17. Paul Breiveld on November 28th, 2008 4:16 pm

      One more reason to shop online!

    18. JoeGoodGuy(R) on November 28th, 2008 4:59 pm

      Well said, Katablog!

      And did you notice #8 (I’ll Americanize him and call him John Smith), from the “compassionate and tolerant” side of the proverbial aisle, labeling this catastrophe as “kapitalistic greed gone wild.”

      A bunch of out of control shoppers storm a store having a sale, trampling an employee to death, and “John ceasu Smith” blames it on capitalism. What a freakin’ moron! Must be a public education product, wood shop, no doubt.

      BTW, Long Island is in NY state, which happens to be one of the bastions of liberalism in this country.

    19. Millie on November 28th, 2008 6:24 pm

      Did they at least close the store after the murder?

    20. Sara on November 28th, 2008 8:01 pm

      Walmart is at fault. They invited it; did not protect their people. The mob? Similar to a rock concert frenzy. Homicidal. Over plastic, electronics, gadgets and junk food.

      The culture and people of America are horrific. What else can we say?

    21. Peter Whalen on November 28th, 2008 8:13 pm

      I find it hard to believe or, maybe not, how insanely materialistic and insensitive our society has become, if indeed we have anything at all resembling a society anymore. My heart goes out to the family of this young man and, I only hope that someone will be called out on the carpet on this one, at as high a level as possible for even allowing this situation to occur and, that any individuals who were directly responsible on the scene will be identified and punished to the greatest extent of the law. I expect that the local and national authorities will be relentless in bringing all the guilty, very guilty, to justice. .

    22. Will on November 28th, 2008 8:14 pm

      I knew the Wal-Mart shoppers would come through again this year. Black Friday just wouldn’t be the same these days without a trampling death somewhere in the country. There is something seriously wrong with people when a bargain on some cheap crap means more than a human life. Let the economy crash. It’s a needed adjustment anyway because Americans have long been buying with credit they cannot afford in the first place. Stay home or go volunteer somewhere.

    23. Richard on November 29th, 2008 10:00 am

      I’m not in any way BLAMING the woman … I’m just saying that a woman in an advanced state of pregnancy is (I think) probably wisest not to go to such mob events. But it’s certainly not her fault, any more than Natalee Holloway is to blame.

      There’s an update to this story … apparently, when the store decided to shut down for a while after this tragedy, some of the people who had been waiting in line got angry at it.

      The tragedy of being deprived of a shopping bargain is, doubtless, among the major grievances in this life. And then this article cites some people as saying that there was not enough security on the scene … are we at a stage now where we have to EXPECT savagery? And that’s just what this was.

      NEW YORK – Police were reviewing video from surveillance cameras in an attempt to identify who trampled to death a Wal-Mart worker after a crowd of post-Thanksgiving shoppers burst through the doors at a suburban store and knocked him down.

      Criminal charges were possible, but identifying individual shoppers in Friday’s video may prove difficult, said Detective Lt. Michael Fleming, a Nassau County police spokesman.

      Other workers were trampled as they tried to rescue the man, and customers stepped over him and became irate when officials said the store was 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. The store in Valley Stream on Long Island closed for several hours before reopening.

      Police said about 2,000 people were gathered outside the Wal-Mart doors before its 5 a.m. opening at a mall about 20 miles east of Manhattan. The impatient crowd knocked the employee, identified by police as Jdimytai Damour, 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,” Fleming said. He described the scene as “utter chaos,” and said the store didn’t have enough security.

      Dozens of store employees trying to fight their way out to help Damour were also getting trampled by the crowd, Fleming said. Shoppers stepped over the man on the ground and streamed into the store.

      Damour, 34, of Queens, was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead around 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.

      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.”

      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. It said it tried to prepare for the crowd by adding staffers and outside security workers, putting up barricades and consulting police.

      “Despite all of our precautions, this unfortunate event occurred,” senior Vice President Hank Mullany said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of those impacted.”

      A woman reported being trampled by overeager customers at a Wal-Mart opening Friday in Farmingdale, about 15 miles east of Valley Stream, Suffolk County police said. She suffered minor injuries, but finished shopping before filling the report, police said.

      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.

      Items on sale at the Valley Stream Wal-Mart 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.

    24. Richard on November 29th, 2008 10:01 am

      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.”

    25. Richard on November 29th, 2008 11:15 am

      To put it another way … a pregnant woman SHOULD have every reason to think that people waiting to shop will act like human beings, not animals.

      Apparently, though, it’s not possible to operate on this assumption.

      Accordingly, it’s in her own best interest to think about what could happen. It’s not her fault, to be sure … but assuming that people will act like humans and not like animals is a dangerous thing.

    26. Jerome on November 29th, 2008 2:19 pm

      When we bread a nation of consumer, this is what can happen. We are looking at the holidays, totally from a standpoint of how much money can be made. We have stopped looking at the exchanges and spirit. I mentioned this in my article, “Business and Concience at http://www.asktheconscience. com

    27. BUN on November 29th, 2008 4:18 pm

      This is so horrible that I really don’t have anything else to say…what about “God bless us everyone”!! The original meaning of Christmas is certainly missing and we are left with craziness and pure evil!

    28. ANewGirl on November 30th, 2008 7:50 am

      Wow……how embarrassing for anyone there. To act like that over a sale?

      I believe the phrase I am searching for is our old-time favorite:

      WTF??????????????????????????

      Once again, I am with #18- Joe Good Guy and #22 Will—good idea about the volunteering. Not for anything….again—I have to say if some of these Wal-Mart Shoppers are the typical “American”—I am embarrassed at their behavior. GET A LIFE PEOPLE, please! The whole idea and message behind what Christmas is and what we are supposed to be celebrating is certainly lost on them.

      And, what of the issue of the poor Security Guard who lost his life?? The man was probably only getting paid slightly over minimum wage from WAL MART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Friccken Wal-Mart who has had countless lawsuits filed on them in the past from many of their empoyment VIOLATIONS!!!!!

      God, help us all. This poor man—here is a case where I do hope his family sues Wal-Mart for MILLIONS!!!!!!!!!! All they had to do was call the police when they saw the crowds outside—it’s called “Risk Management” you idiots! If they saw the crowd getting too large and out of control, proper measures should have been taken to have shoppers file in the doors in a more orderly fashion. This story aggravates the hell out of me, sorry!

    29. ANewGirl on November 30th, 2008 8:12 am

      Dear Monkeys:

      I apologize for all the typos I am making this morning while posting….time to go get a strong Cup O’ Joe.

      Also, I don’t know how much more depressing news I can tolerate before the holidays. I will say this, though—it is the small random acts of kindness that still give me hope….Completely off topic- but I’d like to share this recent event.

      Like many Towns, Cities and Communities—this time of year there are various drives and fundraisers for donations for Xmas Baskets, etc. for those less fortunate than we are. Well, already—here is a story that touched my heart.

      At a local community shelter—my Daughter and I had gathered some old winter coats, books, toys, etc. to bring down to contribute. As we pulled in the parking lot of the Church, we looked over and saw a young boy, about age 13-14 y.o. I would gestimate—his Mother, Father and little Brother were helping him out of the handicapped equipped van. Apparently, this young man may have had MS, Cerebral Palsy- not certain- but his legs were frail and the teenaged boy is in his wheelchair.

      My Daughter and I looked in awe and amazement. I noticed—every family member was smiling, happy and so proud of this Young Man. On his lap, was a big box which had the “NIKE” logo all over it. They wheeled the young man in, he took the elevator—all the while—my Daughter and I are again listening to them chat merrily about how excited they are for Christmas this year. Since they called him by name- we found out his name was Bobby. So, we follow the family down the hallway to the room where they are gathering the various donations.

      Then, it became crowded and a bit confusing—-but I just could not help myself and I approached the Mother as the Father and siblings were with Donny and he was talking to a volunteer.

      After introducing myself and my Daughter, we chatted briefly about the turnout and what a good cause it was. I told her I couldn’t help but notice how happy her Son Donny was to be taking part in doing something for others. She agreed.

      It was then she explained to me that Donny, was in fact diagnosed with MS at a young age. Over the years, he began to deteriorate rapidly and eventually went from barely walking, to not walking at all. Donny had loved to play Basketball and his favorite thing was to skateboard and do tricks. Right before he had started to get worse, he had saved some of his Birthday money, etc. to get a wonderful pair of coveted Nike Skateboard Sneakers that he was so proud of having. He barely got to wear them before they had to go back in the box, only to sit there and be a reminder of what was.

      So, Donny had told his Mother—that this Christmas, it was finally “time”. Time to give his prized sneakers to another young kid whose parents couldn’t afford them, but who would love them just as much as Donny did. He told his Mother- it was hard to admit that this was his destiny and life now…. stuck in a wheelchair watching his limbs slowly become useless. Still, in his heart- he also told his Mom—he knew he would “feel better” and that he was doing the “right thing.”

      Gosh, I am sure a tear came to my eye and my Daughter was speechless. So, Folks—there are some good people left in this World. My Daughter and I had the priveledge of observing one very special one, his family- and the real joy of what giving to others can bring.

      Thanks for reading. Here’s my hope that the true spirit and the real meaning of Christmas glows warmly inside the hearts of all true “Monkeys.”

      God Bless..

      A New Girl from Boston

    30. Diane on December 1st, 2008 3:44 pm

      I never heard about a woman miscarrying because of this. But I am aware of the two men who shot each other in a crowded Toys R Us Store, as well as this story. It’s rediculouse what people will resort to. And the fact that these people didn’t even stop to help, or stop for any other reason but to save this poor mans life, tells a lot about the people today, and what they’ll to to save a buck.

      sick.

    31. not to mention the duck on December 3rd, 2008 10:00 am

      did the people in the store not notice they were stepping on someone or did they just not care who could just watch people do that no one in that 200 person crowd tried to help this man out that is just sad i feel real bad for this man people are savages

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