The Christmas season and all the subsequent shopping can induce a lot of stress. It can even incite people to violence, as numerous shopping brawls have broken out during post-Christmas shopping.
Mall of America food court brawl turns into near riot
A large fight in the food court at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minn., nearly became a full-scale riot, according to ABC, forcing security to intervene and some stores to close on Monday, Dec. 26.
According to the Daily Mail, the cause was disputes over a rumor that rappers Lil’ Wayne and Drake were at the mall, which led to a large group of mostly minors fighting. Several groups broke into brawls concurrently; it’s estimated that up to 200 people were involved in the fighting.
Police and mall security intervened, arresting at least nine people. The brawlers fled the scene, stealing merchandise from other shoppers and kiosks. Mall customers were forced to take refuge in stores, several of which closed until order was restored. Police, according to MSNBC, were able to secure the mall within one hour. Thankfully, no injuries have been reported.
Bull rush over Air Jordans
According to USA Today, a series of fights broke out at several stores nationwide on Friday as the latest edition of the “Air Jordan” sneakers by Nike were released. At the Westfield Southcenter mall in Tukwila, Wash., a suburb of Seattle, 20 were pepper sprayed when some people in the crowd of more than 1,000 became unruly around 4 a.m. Friday morning. According to The Telegraph, 25 police officers had to intervene to restore order. One man was arrested for assaulting a police officer. Tukwila police officer Mike Murphy was quoted as saying the suspect “did not get his shoes; he went to jail.”
In Jersey City, N.J., a scuffle in line for Air Jordans led to one man being stabbed. A gunshot was recorded at the Hilltop Mall at 7 a.m. Friday morning in Richmond, Calif., while customers were in line to buy the new Air Jordan 11 Retro Concords.
International problem
A pair of sneakers was also implicated in the murder of Seydou Diarrassouba in London, according to the Daily Mail. Diarrassouba was stabbed inside a Foot Locker on Oxford Street during Boxing Day shopping, reportedly over a pair of shoes. He staggered outside and collapsed, succumbing to his wounds.
Another man was stabbed nearby a short time later, though he survived the attack. A pair of bloodied jeans and a pair of Nike sneakers were discovered next to him.
Sources
ABC: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/50-strong-brawl-turns-melee-mall-america-15238479#.TvoHLmWP-_0
Daily Mail: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2078978/Mall-America-200-rampage-rumours-Drake-Lil-Wayne-visiting.html
MSNBC: http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/12/27/9742482-melee-at-nations-largest-mall-leads-to-more-security
USA Today: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/story/2011-12-23/air-jordan-north-carolian-shopping-fights/52189240/1
The Telegraph: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/8977045/America-goes-wild-for-Nike-trainers-as-fights-break-out-across-the-country.html
Daily Mail: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2078702/Oxford-Street-stabbing-Seydou-Diarrassouba-18-killed-Boxing-Day-sales-pictured.html
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