Page "Black Friday (shopping)" Paragraph 23

In 2008 a crowd of approximately 2, 000 shoppers in Valley Stream, New York, waited outside for the 5: 00 a. m. opening of the local Walmart.

As opening time approached the crowd grew anxious and when the doors were opened the crowd pushed forward, breaking the door down, and trampling a 34 year old employee to death.

The shoppers did not appear concerned with the victim's fate, expressing refusal to halt their stampede when other employees attempted to intervene and help the injured employee, complaining that they had been waiting in the cold and were not willing to wait any longer.

Shoppers had begun assembling as early as 9: 00 the evening before.

Even when police arrived and attempted to render aid to the injured man, shoppers continued to pour in, shoving and pushing the officers as they made their way into the store.

Several other people incurred minor injuries, including a pregnant woman who had to be taken to the hospital.

The incident may be the first case of a death occurring during Black Friday sales ; according to the National Retail Federation, " We are not aware of any other circumstances where a retail employee has died working on the day after Thanksgiving.