Shootings, Pepper-Sprayed Shoppers on Black Friday
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A string of Black Friday violence, including a shooting outside a Walmart and pepper-sprayed shoppers, swept the country during the early hours of the morning.
Police said a man was shot in the parking lot of a San Leandro, Calif., Walmart around 1:50 a.m., after he refused to give up his purchases to a group of thieves.
“It looks like these guys were looking for a crime of opportunity,” Sgt. Mike Sobek of the San Leandro Police Department told ABCNews.com.
The victim, whom police refused to identify, was shopping with his family, who managed to hold down one suspect until police arrived. The others fled, but Sobek said the police were still reviewing surveillance footage for clues.
In Los Angeles, one woman proved some people would do anything for a good deal.
Twenty people suffered minor injuries after the woman doused the eyes of shoppers at a Walmart in the Porter Ranch area of Los Angeles shortly after 10:20 p.m.
“Somehow she was trying to use it to gain an upper hand,” Abel Parga, a lieutenant in the Los Angeles Police Department, told the Associated Press.
The woman reportedly used the pepper-spray tactic in different areas of the store to gain quick access to the deals on her list.
Shopper John Lopez wasn’t hit, but compared the scene to a riot.
“[The victims'] faces were red,” he told ABC News Radio. “This one guy was coming up to my wife going, ‘Call an ambulance! Call an ambulance!’”
During the melee, the woman was able to pay for her purchases and slip away before police arrived, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Elsewhere, two men fought over jewelry deals at a Walmart in Kissimmee, Fla.
Police arrived at the store shortly after 1 a.m. to defuse the fight. One man was arrested when he resisted as officers tried to escort him out of the store.
In another Walmart-centric act of rage, Tonia Robbins, 55, was shot in the foot while thieves stole her purse outside a Myrtle Beach, S.C., store shortly after 1 a.m.
The suspects fled after Ann Robbins, 58, pulled out a revolver and fired three warning shots into the air, the police report stated.
Read more about mayhem this Black Friday:
Memorial Day Deals 
Man Charged in Deposit Error Spending Spree 
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GREED is the American religion.
Posted by: thomas | November 25, 2011, 11:02 am 11:02 am
“GREED is the American religion.” Which is why the Occupy movement has no plan to fix anything and is doomed to ultimante failure. Although it refuses to admit the fact, they are inherently no better than those they attack.
Posted by: MyTake | November 25, 2011, 12:29 pm 12:29 pm
What’s wrong with America?
Posted by: garcia | November 25, 2011, 12:31 pm 12:31 pm
Americans are getting ridiculous!
Posted by: Carlos A. Garcia | November 25, 2011, 12:32 pm 12:32 pm
Its incredibly pathetic what the masses will do to save a few dollars buying junk they don’t need. But that’s the capitalist- consumerism system. .Eventually its doomed to fail , since our planet has finite resources but its human population continues to grow. Eventually it will resemble an ant heap leading to a world control system of restrictions. But only after WARS have raged between these man made ghettos, we call countries. . Then finally about 4 billion years hence the SUN our source of energy will turn into a white dwarf and our planet earth will be incinerated to particles blowing in the dark void of space. So make the most of it people. Keep on acting like out of control animals.
Posted by: Galactic Cannibal | November 25, 2011, 12:45 pm 12:45 pm
There is always a bad apple in the bunch. That pepper-spraying woman is a bad apple.
Posted by: Librarian53 | November 25, 2011, 12:48 pm 12:48 pm
This is why I pack heat when I shop at Walmart.
Posted by: Combaticus | November 25, 2011, 1:01 pm 1:01 pm
Status drives our economy, how you ask? Status is buying things you don’t need, with money you don’t have, to impress people you don’t like.
Posted by: lol | November 25, 2011, 1:32 pm 1:32 pm
WOW. The Holidays Bring ot the best in People…………..i have never seem so many barbarians and stupid fools in my life, all they show n TV is just stupid. Why do we get the pack mentality around this time of year??
And this lady should be pepper sprayed too!
Posted by: Really?? | November 25, 2011, 1:41 pm 1:41 pm
It isn’t just Americans! I have seen this behavior living in Asia for a few years.
Posted by: Jen | November 25, 2011, 2:21 pm 2:21 pm
So it wasn’t protestors it was Republicans. Republicans refuse to pay for anything and believe that strong have a right to prey on the weak.
Posted by: James Briggs | November 25, 2011, 2:32 pm 2:32 pm
Just look around you, there is no civility anywhere. Whether we talk about politics, religion or just about anything, there are those that want their way or the highway. Add to this some of the worst parenting I have seen in my lifetime and we will continue with this type of behavior. In fact the women who did the pepper spraying had her kids with her, so how do you think they are being raised? This country is literally going to hell and I fear for my grandchildren. We only have ourselves to blame for what’s going on in this country but, that’s the problem, people today don’t accept responsibility for their actions.
Posted by: Indymind | November 25, 2011, 2:37 pm 2:37 pm
This is what you get when you have door buster deals and only 10 items per store. When will these retailers learn? The only good thing to come out of these deals is people getting out of control.
Posted by: Manda | November 25, 2011, 2:40 pm 2:40 pm
What is the common denominator? Wal-Mart!!!!! Wal-Mart’s financial gain is once again our society’s loss as we pay for the medical and police protection for the victims and sink to new lows in terms of civility. Wal-Mart is raping America.
Posted by: conservative | November 25, 2011, 2:52 pm 2:52 pm
@Carlos A. Garcia If you think the human race is going to still be here in 4 billion years, you have another thing coming. The human race will become extinct long before that from toxic pollution or disease.
Posted by: mobredthree | November 25, 2011, 2:53 pm 2:53 pm
There is plenty of civility left. The vast majority of people are decent and considerate. Those who aren’t just stand out and get noticed (and headlines).
And come on, we ARE talking about WALMART in most of these incidents…the epitomy of everything that is ugly and broken in the U.S.
If you are shopping this season, do it at small, local businesses and buy American. WE are the “job creators”, not the mega-corporations or uber-rich investors.
Posted by: Raven | November 25, 2011, 2:56 pm 2:56 pm
MYTAKE: What are you talking about? Who said these folks are OWS within this article, this is the problem with your side, you stretch the truth to out right lying. This is why your side is going to lose big time, just in lying alone, and Americans are fed up with that to. One side is pretending the other side just lies. Sick and demented.
Posted by: phantomniter | November 25, 2011, 3:02 pm 3:02 pm
“The suspects fled after Ann Robbins, 58, pulled out a revolver and fired three warning shots into the air, the police report stated.”
Yeah great idea, idiot. Let’s hurt some innocent people with the stray bullets you’ve fired into the air. Next time fire the warning shots into the suspect’s chest.
“So your saying that you would murder someone with a handgun at Walmart because you were hit with pepper spray?”
I wouldn’t murder her, but you had better believe that I’d have beaten her to within an inch of her life. The police will find her, though. The cameras they use for security in these stores are high enough resolution to read the numbers off your drivers license at the check out.
Posted by: AmericaThePitiful | November 25, 2011, 3:22 pm 3:22 pm
Time to forcefully evict these so-called peaceful Walmarts that are occupying shopping centers across America.
Posted by: Ganon | November 25, 2011, 3:27 pm 3:27 pm
Never a dull moment at Walmart on Black and Blue Friday.
Posted by: GAW | November 25, 2011, 3:28 pm 3:28 pm
Stop blaming corporate greed for these peoples’ barbaric actions. Money and material things do not change people, they only make people more of what they already are. I bet you the woman who pepper sprayed those people has a long history of behaving like a mean, selfish, and violent bully to get what she wants..
Posted by: midfield91 | November 25, 2011, 3:30 pm 3:30 pm
Just finishing my T’day leftovers…. peacefully and saving money by not spending it.
Posted by: Jean | November 25, 2011, 3:31 pm 3:31 pm
Occupy Walmart I’m guessing. Probably taking a break from protesting capitalism…next thing you know they’ll be camping out in the parking lots and crapping in the trash cans.
Posted by: thePRSF | November 25, 2011, 3:51 pm 3:51 pm
My first Christmas season in retail was the slap in the face i needed to accept that my ancestors were ape-like knuckle draggers. Nothing shocking at all about this report if you’ve ever worked retail at this time of year.
Posted by: sainthubbins | November 25, 2011, 3:53 pm 3:53 pm
It’s always Walmart why is that? it’s the class of people that do not mind buying materials made in China to save a buck I will go to the smaller family run stores and try my best to buy American I have never and never will step foot into a Wlamart
Posted by: crystal | November 25, 2011, 3:58 pm 3:58 pm
My goodness people how ridiculous can you get??? You are willing to risk your life for a bargain??? Wake up, it’s all a gimick there really isn’t a deal it’s all public relations and marketing to fools! I give thanks that I don’t have to be a bargain hunter and deal with the idiots that step out every year for this foolishness…IMO YOU GET WHAT YOU DESERVE! THE HUMAN RACE IS STUPID
Posted by: jane | November 25, 2011, 4:22 pm 4:22 pm
And people are still blaming Obama that the economy is bad?
Posted by: NoFlyZone2 | November 25, 2011, 4:29 pm 4:29 pm
Obama’s failed economy has caused some people to become desperate! – Obama’s Democrats demanding $1 Trillion in tax hikes and the addition of coming medical insurance cost hikes because of Obamacare has fueled slow job growth! Then we now have Obama’s army of OWS minions trying to stop shoppers from entering stores and waging class warfare in our streets!
Posted by: BIG MEX JIMMY | November 25, 2011, 4:50 pm 4:50 pm
I wonder if she’s related to Lt. John Pike?
Posted by: Minorkey1 | November 25, 2011, 5:04 pm 5:04 pm
Please stop celebrating the birth of a homeless man who practiced simplicity, love and self sacrifice by buying junk you don’t need. Give your time, talents and stories to others instead. I promise you will feel better and learn something about the reason for the season.
Posted by: JustSayIn | November 25, 2011, 5:21 pm 5:21 pm
It is a sign of the times. You never heard of this kind of violence before. And it isn’t just the economy, it is the mentality today.
No manners anymore. I wouldn’t participate in this if you paid me.
Posted by: sean | November 25, 2011, 5:33 pm 5:33 pm
Insane. Americans, who in general are very good people and extremely civilized, are getting obsessed with materials. Meditation and Yoga does help people cool down. Also reading Bhagavad Gita removes obsession towards materials. Visit any ISKON on Sunday evening, they will give even free food (just fyi Steve Jobs himself said that he walked 7 miles to eat that good food).
Posted by: presr | November 25, 2011, 5:35 pm 5:35 pm
Mammon
Posted by: Mike | November 25, 2011, 6:00 pm 6:00 pm
I stayed home.
Posted by: newcountryman | November 25, 2011, 6:04 pm 6:04 pm
“The suspects fled after Ann Robbins, 58, pulled out a revolver and fired three warning shots into the air, the police report stated.” I wonder if they will arrest her for gun possession or “reckless endangerment”?
Posted by: newcountryman | November 25, 2011, 6:09 pm 6:09 pm
Remember when a security guard was trampled to death in a New York Walmart some years ago?
Posted by: newcountryman | November 25, 2011, 6:10 pm 6:10 pm
Surprised at some of the baggers complaining about a bit of pepper spray at Walmart. In the John Galt society it seems perfectly acceptable, plus FOX news is calling it a condiment.
Posted by: Dave | November 25, 2011, 6:27 pm 6:27 pm
What is so important that you have to have to risk this ridiculous display of human beings? I would rather stay at home then put up with this garbage and make sure my bills are paid first before buying something that I can’t afford or have to pay for over the next few years. The greed of Americans is out of control and this is not what Christmas is all about.
Posted by: chris | November 25, 2011, 6:41 pm 6:41 pm
Dave (6:27 PM), “Baggers are complaining about pepper spray”? Where did you gather that?
Posted by: newcountryman | November 25, 2011, 6:43 pm 6:43 pm
You know, I have problems of my own. Let law enforcement deal with these loonies. Those of us who remember “Peace on Earth. Goodwill toward man” should just go on with our lives.
Posted by: Steven | November 25, 2011, 6:54 pm 6:54 pm
Pepper spray is just vegetable juice, so it may be messy, but it won’t hurt anyone. I saw them say so on FOX News. It’s got vitamins too.
Posted by: htg | November 25, 2011, 6:55 pm 6:55 pm
Steven, Pepper spray is NOT V-8 juice! Perhaps you should experience a snoot full of these vitamins just for giggles.
Posted by: Joe Koke | November 25, 2011, 7:15 pm 7:15 pm
OOOOPPPPSSSS. Sorry Steven I meant HTG.
Posted by: Joe Koke | November 25, 2011, 7:30 pm 7:30 pm
The love of money is what? It is evil that is what! This insane shopping brings out the worst in mankind as the Christmas season is supposed to be about the greatest thing ever to step on earth and now it is about the most evil thing-money and it’s master. I am ashamed of my fellow Americans who participate in this garbage just to save a few bucks on some nonsense gadget they don’t even need anyway.
Posted by: rockychance | November 25, 2011, 7:43 pm 7:43 pm
Gotta love the Walmart crowd!! Just like the NASCAR crowd, showcasing the best our country has to offer. Quite embarrassing.
Posted by: Dr. bubba | November 25, 2011, 7:51 pm 7:51 pm
Now that’s the Christmans spirit….NOT. I’m afraid to ask what they did on Thanksgiving.
Posted by: Tara | November 25, 2011, 7:57 pm 7:57 pm
And these are the same people complaining about OWS protesters? Hypocrites!
Posted by: blind spot | November 25, 2011, 7:58 pm 7:58 pm
Dr. Bubba, NASCAR? Walmart? You forgot to mention the occupy crowd doc.
Posted by: newcountryman | November 25, 2011, 7:59 pm 7:59 pm
After I went to one Friday, I never went again. Some people revert to behaviour of animals when events like this is done and Walmart and other companies feed into it.
Posted by: Lonewolf1045 | November 25, 2011, 8:13 pm 8:13 pm
Just need an army of “gun toten’” buffoons to keep these pepper spray amateurs in line … Have a Holly Jolly Christmas!
Posted by: yeah.i.said.it | November 25, 2011, 8:18 pm 8:18 pm
im embarrassed to be an American, but at least i know im freeee….to go elsewhere.
Posted by: gray | November 25, 2011, 8:33 pm 8:33 pm
There is nothing wrong with America. We need to hold these people accountable with the maximum sentence with assualt ateempted murder. The thugs and her need to learn a severe lesson no excuses. You should pay the consequesnces for such outrageous actions not go free.
Posted by: Steve | November 25, 2011, 8:51 pm 8:51 pm
Wait a minute!! Are we expected to believe that the pepper spray woman, after assaulting several people in different areas of the store, then calmly PAID for her purchases and left? Somehow I find that scenario to be totally unbelievable!
Posted by: xtch3 | November 25, 2011, 9:06 pm 9:06 pm
And we wonder why our Politicians are low-lifes.. we are, so they are.
Posted by: anotherday | November 25, 2011, 9:18 pm 9:18 pm
As for the shooting/robbery. Why does the fact that it was black firday have anything to do with this. This happens all the time accross the country. Maybe the little old lady should have carried at least pepper spray.
Posted by: RAS | November 25, 2011, 9:29 pm 9:29 pm
They’ll all just be back to “Brawllmart” after Xmas to return all that cheap chinese garbage anyway …
Posted by: yeah.i.said.it | November 25, 2011, 9:46 pm 9:46 pm
i hope this woman is caught and get s a jail sentence and a very hefty fine. this is unacceptable behavior. anyone injured by the pepper spray is going to sue walmart and that woman and get $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Posted by: asjkwreu | November 25, 2011, 10:36 pm 10:36 pm
What we need is for people to “Occupy Bourbon Street” in New Orleans and spray their food with pepper. Nobody would notice the gunfire; the fights, riots, resisting arrest and crowds would be practice for Mardi Gras. The hippies and people camping out would find the climate a lot warmer. If everyone stayed downtown, no one would probably know or care as long as the tourist/convention trade is not messed up.
Posted by: Alan Brown | November 25, 2011, 11:34 pm 11:34 pm
Greed coupled with the hoi polloi and this is the result. We are devolving thanks to big box, greed, and masses of hoi polloi to fuse ruination of our country. We have so many huge issues in our midst from Hexavalent Chromium still being a huge issue, to the poor who are not insane, materialistic fools, but merely need a helping hand. I can only hope Thanksgiving is regulated such that Friday cannot open until 9 am and close at 5 pm. This is lunacy.
Posted by: Angelgroove | November 26, 2011, 12:10 am 12:10 am
I didn’t see any crowd in the stores. Didn’t have to deal with heavier than normal traffic. I didn’t have any problems at all. My wife and I stayed home.
Shooting in the air is beyond stupid. The bullet has to come down somewhere and nothing says it won’t be on someone. You can use deadly force to stop a life threatening attack almost anywhere. In Texas you can still use deadly force to stop theft. Instead of shooting in the air, aim for center mass if you are close enough to hit the criminal without endangering innocent bystanders. (One reason I carry hollow points and I don’t like magnum loads.) If you aren’t seriously willing to use deadly force, don’t carry a gun.
Posted by: oonogil | November 26, 2011, 2:57 am 2:57 am
I shopped at WallMart while travelling through the US and it had what I needed; cheap kitchentowels; pillows; food; .. I even bought a barbecue that I gave away to a campsite when going back home to Europe. So, for me it was perfect. The story about americans acting like apes to save a buck doesn’t surprise me at all. I’ve met lowlifes during my travelling; but I also met great and awesome people. The great and awesome unfortunately don’t come in the newspapers or TV. A very funny thing that happened to me was an american asking me where I was from and when I answered he asked me if I speak european. I explained that there is no such thing as european language; that each country is different, etc. He was very kind, but uneducated, and that is to me one of the issues that US has. You used to be a great nation, but you are deteriorating.
Posted by: Sandrine | November 26, 2011, 5:44 am 5:44 am
What the hell is wrong with people?
Seriously?
Posted by: alekx | November 26, 2011, 4:08 pm 4:08 pm