awful, and embarassing

Stampede of Shoppers Kill Worker At Wal-Mart

"In Long Island, New York, a worker at Wal Mart died after being trampled to death by a stampede of shoppers on Friday, the traditional first day of the holiday shopping season. The 34-year-old worker Jdimytai Damour was killed after a crowd of 2,000 broke down store doors and ran over him shortly before the store’s scheduled 5 a.m. opening. Four shoppers were injured in the stampede including a pregnant woman. Nassau County police were trying to determine what happened during the stampede, but said it was unclear if there would be any criminal charges. Shoppers at Wal-Mart described a chaotic scene at the store.

Lisa Williford: “It was mayhem. It was mayhem. It was a real mob. It was a real mob and I was on the line at 10 minutes to four, so it was at least four or five-thousand before I had even got here. So I think that people were anxious. I’m going to get in. I’m going to get in. I’m going to get in and I don’t think the security that they had was enough to calm the crowd or make the crowd feel like you’re going to get your turn.”
-DEMOCRACY NOW, december 1, 2008