Every year, Black Friday sales mean thousands of shoppers across the country are lining up for bargains and also violence. So far, two people have been murdered in separate incidents that are tied to the shopping craze.
Police in Reno, Nevada are reporting that a man was killed minutes after a door buster sale started at a local Walmart. Police said the unidentified victim was gunned down at 6:05 p.m. in a driveway leading up to the superstore. The gunman and his victim were fighting over a parking spot at the store. Police have identified all the parties involved but have not released any names as the investigation is in its initial phases. A firearm was recovered at the scene of the shooting.
In Mays Landing, New Jersey, a man was shot dead and his brother wounded outside a Macy’s at Hamilton Mall. Police responded to the mall near the parking lot of the Macy’s at 1:05 a.m., when they found the 20-year-old man with multiple gunshot wounds and his brother shot in the leg. Patrons at the mall continued shopping unaware that a murder had just taken place. Police placed more than 15 evidence markers at the scene and a bullet ridden SUV was towed away. At this time, law enforcement are not releasing the name of the victims or the shooter as the investigation continues. It is unknown what precipitated the encounter.
Many retail outlets started Black Friday sales on Thanksgiving Day in order to reduce crowds. Some outlets such as Best Buy gave shoppers standing in line tickets for popular items to avoid fights and violence that have plagued the annual event in the past. In 2015, many viral videos of fights were posted to social media that showed shoppers pushing and fighting over big ticket items such as flat screen TVs, video game consoles and other electronics that were reduced in price as part of door-buster savings. There have been calls in the past to hold retail outlets responsible for violence and injuries that resulted from unruly crowds.
