This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/us-news-blog/2012/nov/23/black-friday-chaos-america
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Black Friday spawns chaotic scenes as America goes wild in the aisles | Black Friday spawns chaotic scenes as America goes wild in the aisles |
| (4 months later) | |
| As day follows night, so is Thanksgiving followed by an orgy of consumerism. Thankfully, no one appears to have died in the rush for bargains this year – in past Black Friday stampedes, fatalities have occurred. | As day follows night, so is Thanksgiving followed by an orgy of consumerism. Thankfully, no one appears to have died in the rush for bargains this year – in past Black Friday stampedes, fatalities have occurred. |
| Nonetheless, stories of idiocy in the malls of America abound, so here's a round-up of the lengths some people have gone to to bag a bargain on Black Friday. | Nonetheless, stories of idiocy in the malls of America abound, so here's a round-up of the lengths some people have gone to to bag a bargain on Black Friday. |
| • A shopper in Massachusetts went home with a new 51in flat-screen TV, but left behind his girlfriend's two-year-old son. The toddler was found by police asleep in a car outside Kmart; officers had to break into the vehicle to free the abandoned boy. Officers say they expect to charge the 34-year-old boyfriend of the child's mother with reckless endangerment. | • A shopper in Massachusetts went home with a new 51in flat-screen TV, but left behind his girlfriend's two-year-old son. The toddler was found by police asleep in a car outside Kmart; officers had to break into the vehicle to free the abandoned boy. Officers say they expect to charge the 34-year-old boyfriend of the child's mother with reckless endangerment. |
| • In San Antonio, Texas, a queue jumper had to hide behind a refrigerator after an aggrieved shopper pulled a gun on him. The incident took place at a Sears store late Thursday evening, as punters queued for discounted Black Friday goods. After an argument broke out between shoppers, an alleged queue jumper punched a rival in the face, prompting the injured man to threaten him with a weapon, according to the San Antonio Express-News. | • In San Antonio, Texas, a queue jumper had to hide behind a refrigerator after an aggrieved shopper pulled a gun on him. The incident took place at a Sears store late Thursday evening, as punters queued for discounted Black Friday goods. After an argument broke out between shoppers, an alleged queue jumper punched a rival in the face, prompting the injured man to threaten him with a weapon, according to the San Antonio Express-News. |
| • Pepper spray was deployed to break up a fight outside JCPenney at a mall in Kentwood, Michigan, according to reports. Local TV station WOODTV said police had handcuffed and taken away two shoppers, following the mélêe in the early hours of Friday morning. | • Pepper spray was deployed to break up a fight outside JCPenney at a mall in Kentwood, Michigan, according to reports. Local TV station WOODTV said police had handcuffed and taken away two shoppers, following the mélêe in the early hours of Friday morning. |
• In Alabama, one punter recorded chaotic scenes at a Walmart store as people fought over items including $5 headphones, toys and cellphones. | • In Alabama, one punter recorded chaotic scenes at a Walmart store as people fought over items including $5 headphones, toys and cellphones. |
• In Florida, Walmart shoppers captured the arrest of a customer who was wrestled to the ground after trying to bypass long checkout lines. Police say 28-year-old Samantha Chavez was asked to get in line several times, but refused and then threw merchandise on the floor and began screaming at them. In a short clip posted on YouTube, the woman is heard begging officers to "please stop" as they restrain her. | • In Florida, Walmart shoppers captured the arrest of a customer who was wrestled to the ground after trying to bypass long checkout lines. Police say 28-year-old Samantha Chavez was asked to get in line several times, but refused and then threw merchandise on the floor and began screaming at them. In a short clip posted on YouTube, the woman is heard begging officers to "please stop" as they restrain her. |
| guardian.co.uk today is our daily snapshot of the top news stories, sent to your inbox at 8am |