As the family Thanksgiving winds down, a great rush of adrenaline and deals is just beyond the horizon of midnight. Stampede of shoppers, broken security scanners, and physical fights is what creates the perfect recipe for a retail store Black Friday sale. However, with the progression of online shopping, the more we lose a part of our crazy American culture.
10. Urban Outfitters Riot at Thousand Oaks Mall in California (2011).
No employees or shoppers were injured but there were many cases of property damage. There is a video that looks like a herd of hundreds of shoppers flooding into the compact retail store. Many described it as a scene out of a zombie movie.
9. Police Tackle Shoplifting Grandpa (2011)
A grandpa and his grandson went to their local Arizona Walmart to do some video game shopping. In the midst of the madness the grandpa allegedly tucks a video game into his waistband for safe keeping, according to himself. A police officer saw and with one leg sweep the grandpa was out cold on the ground. He had to receive four stitches and then was later jailed.
8. Pregnant Woman Trampled (2005)
In Grand Rapids, Michigan as the Walmart doors opened at 5 a.m. a pregnant woman tried to complete her Christmas shopping, but instead was face down on the ground after being pushed. No one came to rescue her and she lost her wig as well.
7. Victoria Secret Employee takes shelter on top of display (2018)
One of the most iconic and viral videos from any Black Friday is when a worker had to seek refuge on top of a table, while a herd of people scramble to take merchandise.
6. Marine stabbed by Black Friday shoplifter (2010)
A U.S. marine was trying to defend a Best Buy exit, which resulted in him being stabbed. A man was trying to steal a Dell laptop and Phillip Duggan the Marine tried to stop an injustice.
5. Toys “R” Us Shoot out (2008)
Two female customers got into a verbal dispute, which quickly turned physical when their what-seem-to-be husbands both pulled out guns and started shooting. It was reported five or six shots were shot throughout the store on their dramatic chase through the aisles. Both men in the incident were shot.
4. Walmart Employee trampled to death (2008)
This marks Black Friday’s first stampede fatality: 2,000 bustling shoppers came in full speed resulting in an employee death in Long Island, NY.
3. Off-duty cop pepper-spray frenzy (2011)
Twenty were injured in North Carolina when an off-duty cop reportedly began pepper-spraying “He was raining it over the whole crowd,” a witness said. “Some of it got my granddaughter in her face and eyes, and she had to go to the emergency room because she is asthmatic.” Fellow cops seemingly covered for him by describing the “raining” as a “puff of pepper spray.”
2. Two shot at Northern California Mall (2020)
Two teenagers were shot and killed by a gunman in the midst of the Black Friday shopping, sending people into a panic and the mall on lock down.
1. Reno, Nevada Multiple Shootings (2016)
From stolen parking spots and crazy brawls inside the Reno Walmart several people’s lives were claimed on Black Friday Night. Three died and one injured leaving this to be one of the most gruesome Black Friday incidents.
