Police Eying Wal-Mart Trample Video

Could Charge NY Shoppers Who Stampeded A Long Island Store, Killing Worker

(CBS/AP)  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.

[earache4]

Cops are trying to see what spooked those sheeple into a stampede.....

[earache4]

baaah.....baaaaah....baaaah.....

[btree50]

Doesnt it make you proud to be an American? Idiots will kill someone to save a buck. No wonder this country is so screwed up.

[u-r-right]

I hope these eager shoppers enjoy their latest electronic gadgets. These are the same people that wonder why they can''t put food on the table.

[earache4]

Sorry about the stampede....At least I got the last "Crowd Control Elmo".....

[glidescube]

Cops are trying to see what spooked those sheeple into a stampede.....

Posted by earache4 at 09:18 AM : Nov 29, 2008

I hear they where all black...perhaps they need to look at the black culture of materialism

[earache4]

Posted by WalMartEmpl at 09:39 AM

Who released the surveillance tape to the press? hmmm....

[earache4]

I hear they where all black...perhaps they need to look at the black culture of materialism
Posted by Glidescube at 09:40 AM

There is nothing humane about humanity, regardless of ethnicity. Never has been. Never will be.

[rhino779]

My sympathy goes out to Mr. Damour''s family.

Perhaps the police should also be looking at the video of the the Walmart corporate board room. After all, the upper management of Walmart (and Target and Circuit City, etc) have been exploiting the greed of the thundering herds for years, urging them on with promises of big sales for those who get there first on Black Friday. They encourage people to camp out in front of their stores on Thanksgiving night to get the best deals. They love having the local news crews show up and photograph people lined up and/or camping at their stores (it is free advertising, after all). Some stores even advertise "door buster" sales. It was only a matter of time before something like this had to happen.

All of these day after Thanksgiving greed festivals are disgusting. Walmart Corporation could show its concern for Mr. Damour by vowing from now on to only operate their stores normally on the day after Thanksgiving, but I doubt if that is going to happen...

[ladyephesus1]

Earache,

Go suck one!!

I hear they where all black...perhaps they need to look at the black culture of materialism
Posted by Glidescube at 09:40 AM

Your sheet is showing

[peed6]

I agree, the video should come down. walmart can do a lot of things to prevent this in the future, instead of sending a temp out into this dangerous situation. How much do you want to bet they will do nothing that costs them money? Electronic or pneumatic devices to open the doors that would cost a few dollars per store are probably more expensive than one employee. walmart has shown time and again they will not spend money to protect their customers or employees. It is also digusting that people would get mad that the store is closing because someone died. It is sad that someone would video tape this and post it (probably sell it). I think it is a good indication of what walmart is like, when they opened the store a few hours later. That store should be shut down for at least a full day, if not until after this poor man''s funeral. I''m even surprised they shut it down at all, knowing how they are about making a buck. This incident happened because of walmart and the shoppers greed. Greed is horrible disease in this country.

[yourpointis]

This is sad - a stampede to spend money. What the he//?? I''m a woman, and I hate shopping...this just solidifies that fact. Why would you camp out in front of a store to save a few dollars? Much less risk a *** stampede, getting trampled, hurting people. crazy stuff....

[kc629]

I am sure the police are appreciate the video for what it is... it can turn out to be important evidence, i just hope they got the name of every greedy shopper that probly just went on shopping after they trampled that poor man, its their fault if i "accidentley" trampled someone i would turn around to see if they are ok, not run as fast as i can to the big screen tv''s

[caliopejade]

I agree - this video has no place on the internet. I work at Walmart too and I see "sheeple" all the time. I will ask you all though, please don''t boil us Walmart workers all in the same pot -- there are many decent people who work there. And to think, I wondered why I don''t celebrate Christmas anymore...

[inventagod2]

This really is a sad commentary on the christmas frenzy retailers have created. Advertising executives study crowd behavior and whip shoppers into this frenzy. They know folks will line up before the store opens, and capitalize on that fact. Wal-Mart is responsible for keeping people from getting hurt. They failed - and this will probably happen again. People may want to examine why this happened, and not get brainwashed like this again...

[txlakeside]

Yes Rowdy and you are one of those animals as your racism is clearly showing!

[legalhemi]

With a name like "jdimytai damour", I say good riddence

[txlakeside]

Morph ... get an education and learn to clearly express your thoughts in a way that makes some sense.

[txlakeside]

Judging someone by their name is soooooooo 1950''s and shows your lack complete of intelligence!

[kunz8]

what a tradegy, I think every person who entered that store and lead to the demise of that man should be charged with murder! What a crime to end a life over some DVD, TV, or other gift item to save a buck we as a society should be ashamed of these actions and demand justice!

[caliopejade]

Legalhemi, SHAME ON YOU!!!! How dare you judge someone by their name or ethnicity! I thought I was responding to the posts of intelligent people!

[erintippin]

I agree with Rowdydfw. This is not Wal*Mart''s fault. The blame rests entirely with the "people" (and I use that term loosely) who knocked the worker over and trampled him. What ever happened to personal responsibility?

[dbstevens]

I hope they aggressively pursue this. I know it will be hard to identify the people, as they said, but this is an example of human beings at their most incredibly disgusting and pathetic.

[tajakitten]

I am appalled at this inhumane animalistic behavior of these persons, who decided to put their materialistic attitudes in front of harming another. Do they not have a conscience!! Im sure they don''t, but bad karma is never positive and will follow those responsible for their entire lives! "What goes around, comes around!

[czmdm]

This is not Wal-Marts fault? That is crazy. Last year they had security. So this year to save a few bucks they don''t have the police there and a guy gets trampled to death. The store IS in charge of the physical well being of it''s employee''s as well as it''s customers. When the saw this catastrophe waitint to happen they should have never unlocked the doors.

[tajakitten]

I am appalled at this inhumane animalistic behavior of these persons, who decided to put their materialistic attitudes in front of harming another. Do they not have a conscience!! Im sure they don''t, but bad karma is never positive and will follow those responsible for their entire lives! "What goes around, comes around!

[gheemaster38]

I hear they where all black...perhaps they need to look at the black culture of materialism
Posted by Glidescube at 09:40 AM

Hmmm! Does that bit of false information make you feel better? Does it stroke your ego? Or, maybe because they call it "black Friday" you think that it meant only "black people" were there. Well, tell me this - Is there anyplace in the US where a Wal-Mart only have black shoppers or for that matter is put up in an all black neighborhood? Are we to beleive that the hispanics, whites and other stood by calmly and in control while the "blacks" pushed their way in? Not a snowball chance in h**! Or in your case, a White sheet staying clean in a mudstorm. State your source please, and dont tell me from a friend of a friend''s cousin or some ***. Before you release your bullsh*t you should verify the source. All black my a$$, the only thing they have in common is they were all greedy for artificial sales and didnt give a *** about human life to get to them. Eliminate "black Friday" and that will stop this.

[kk217]

I hope they get every single one of them. They are all guilty of this man''s death. Frikkin animals!!!

[mediabrat60]

You are right...people that make racial remarks lack
intelligence. Just goes to show you "stupidity" is
an "across the board" thing, not racial!

My sister was trampled at disneyland some years ago by a white crowd.
What would you call that?

[fran12366]

i think that it is the same as before wal-mart knows how the people are when the black friday comes I use to work for them on the black friday.So they know to get some help in tring to controll the kids yes i said KIDS that are in line out side waiting to come in to the store.you have to treat them like 2 year old because they know no differnts in being in controll and being just out raguse.thats why i stay home on black friday.and for the POLICE that was there WHY IN THE HE// didnt they do the right way for CPR was they scared to touch him.That is not what we do for CPR.I really hate that the family of the guy has to go thought at this time of the year but i think that they should also be blamed for the unproper use of CPR.and for the people that caused this well i hope the TV DIGEL CAMERA and the other stuff was worth it and that they can live with there self in giving this christmas after the way they acted

[kk217]

I doubt that Long Island, NY is home to only Hispanics and Blacks. Stupid thing to say that it was only minorities involved

[fran12366]

WHY DOES IT ALWAYS HAVE TO BE ABOUT COLOR.WHY CANT WE JUST GET TO THE RIGHT BLAME WAL-MART POLICE AND THE PEOPLE WHO CAME THROUGHT THE DOOR.COLOR HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.

[fran12366]

I AGREE WITH YOU Kk.they r just being stupid

[corkscr3w]

Do we really need to see a video of attempts to revive a man who ultimately died? His family lost their loved one the day after thanksgiving. Do we really need to broadcast their grief worldwide?

CBS, please remove this video. It''s the higher ground in this case.

[caliopejade]

johndevinejr...in one breath you say "racists are stupid"(and rightfully so), and in the next you disparage Texans, Christians,Creationists and Republicans. Hypocrite! I''ll have you know that I am A Texan,a Creationist, a Christian, and a Walmart Employee! Prejudice is prejudice, no matter where you come from! Do you think that the people you slam condone this man''s death?! Think before you post!

[evolwon]

One usually hears about people being trampled to death at religious pilgrimages in far-away countries. This says a lot about what we worship here.

[liselle3]

What a bunch of creepy people with a lack of regard for human life. They should have shut the store down, and they should ID these jerks and prosecute.

[liselle3]

The video should be removed. It is disturbing to hear the commentary in the background, and the woman laughing.... Sickening.

[caliopejade]

I agree - the person Laughing in the video made me sick!! I weep for the future - Come Lord Jesus and please hurry!

[evolwon]

The video reveals the human condition - for better or worst. Removing it only puts truth in a closet. Of course it is disturbing, but isn''t that what people need to elicit change? Open your eyes, and speak about what you see. Hear what we all together fear not to disagree.

[killeentx2]

In March 2008 the American Heart Association and the European Resuscitation Council, in a reversal of policy, endorsed the effectiveness of chest compressions alone--without artificial respiration...so PLEASE know how CPR is performed and stay current on certifications before you say the EMTs did not give that man "mouth to mouth" out of fear, or disgust. Lets not belittle the situation by shifting blame to the caregivers when it should be on the reckless shoppers who bombarded the store knocked a man down and trampled him to death, or the callous shoppers who cared more about their wasted time then a man who just lost his life, and finally the people who used a cell phone to document these indecencies with people laughing in the background and issuing snide remarks.

[incog-nito]

Behold the future of America: a Wal-Mart economy where outsourcing cause people to lose jobs or income, thus turning to Wal-Mart for cheap goods, thus causing more outsourcing and job loss, thus...

[deckardbr]

Do we really need to see a video of attempts to revive a man who ultimately died? His family lost their loved one the day after thanksgiving. Do we really need to broadcast their grief worldwide?

CBS, please remove this video. It''''s the higher ground in this case.

Posted by corkscr3w at 12:05 PM : Nov 29, 2008

NO! Leave it there, CBS. It belongs there. Let people see the truth; what the neo-liberal, socialized Amerika, a country without a moral compass, has become. Let the fat-*ssed PhD''s, with hyphenated names see what their social engineering has accomplished. Shove it in their faces. They''ve earned it.

[obcessed]

"The video should be removed. It is disturbing to hear the commentary in the background, and the woman laughing.... Sickening. "


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Personally, I wish they would make this video a mandatory requirement for EVERYONE to see! I work as a Paramedic....and it absolutely astounds me...how people today can be so heartless and uncaring about other humans!

Wasnt long ago....we were called to aid a victim of cardiac arrest...at a local fast food restuarant. Believe it or not....we had to call for police backup for crowd control...to keep people from stepping over the man''s body...while we were still trying to resuscitate him! What a sad commentary on people in America....when getting to the counter to order a cheeseburger and fries....is more important that another person''s life! ( Side note....We DID manage to revive this victim and he managed to survive for two more weeks before a second heart attack took his life)

[kc629]

how can ANYONE blame wal-mart for this? yes maybe they should have had more poeple outside forming lines or perhaps a number system like they do when your waiting at a deli, but we have to remembers scores of people trampled this man and did NOT look back, that was NOT wal-mart!

[evolwon]

DeckardBR elicits change fearlessly.

[evolwon]

obcessed and kc629 elicit change fearlessly.

[kc629]

doubt that Long Island, NY is home to only Hispanics and Blacks. Stupid thing to say that it was only minorities involved


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Posted by Kk217 at 11:43 AM : Nov 29, 2008
very true anyone who has ever been to long island knows it is not as someone posted here earlier a "black area" i dont think it makes a diffrence what color they are the man was still stampeded to death i dont think his family cares what "color" they are

[f3518v]

i hope wal mart get the hell sued out of them! its idiotic to have a time limit on super sale items because this is what happens!