Nov 28, 2009 11:33 am US/Eastern
DA: Walmart Peaceful Year After Deadly Stampede
VALLEY STREAM, N.Y. (CBS) ―
Crowd control at all Walmart stores in New York appeared to be smooth Friday, a year after a security guard was crushed to death by a stampede of shoppers.
Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice said her office was unaware of any injuries or property damage at Walmart stores in New York on the day after Thanksgiving, one of the busiest shopping days of the year.
The prosecutor's office also said it appears company crowd control measures "improved significantly since last year."
Bargain hunters braved the crowds to get their hands on the best deals at area malls. On Long Island, the hustle and bustle of the early morning spilled into the evening. In Valley Stream, however, it was a different kind of scene this Black Friday.
Dozens of security guards and police officers mingled with shoppers at Wal-Mart.
Last year, a Black Friday stampede killed a temporary worker at the store. This year, there was an unexpected prayer vigil outside the mega store, marking the one-year anniversary of the fatal stampede.
The music and the message brought back raw memories to Emmanuel Moultrie, who was among the 11 injured when Wal-Mart worker Jdimytai Damour was trampled to death as he unlocked the doors to a waiting throng of 3,000 frenzied deal-seekers.
There was a noticeable difference at the retailer Friday.
"It's a line instead of a mob," Moultrie said. "When I arrived last year, the crowd was back out to here."
Moultrie and Leanna Lockley, who was pregnant at the time and also was knocked down by the surging shoppers, filed civil lawsuits with the retail giant.
"I fell like they should have been criminally prosecuted – someone died," Lockley said.
The tragedy and melee led to a safety settlement with the Nassau District Attorney and changes in Wal-Mart's approach to holiday sales – mandatory crowd control now monitored by police, undercover detectives, and a whole team of security agents.
Wristbands and vouchers were handed out inside the store, beginning on Thanksgiving Day, for the most sought after items. Lines formed behind barricades for the sale blitz that began at 5 a.m.
With dozens of crowd managers in place and big-ticket items placed far apart in the store, experienced Black Friday shoppers said improved communication is keeping everyone safe.
Wal-Mart has 92 stores in New York.
In California, a Walmart store in Upland closed its doors for several
hours after shoppers began fighting over merchandise. Lt. Jim Etchason
said officers were called about 2:44 a.m. and helped herd customers
into the parking lot.
No arrests were made, Etchason said, and groups of customers were allowed back inside by 6 a.m.
San
Bernardino County sheriff's spokesman Jodi Miller said another scuffle
was reported at a Walmart in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., but deputies did
not find any disturbances.
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said in a
statement earlier Friday that it was getting positive feedback from its
customers and employees nationwide.
(© 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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