11/29/2008

Killers on the Loose: They're Looking for the Shoppers in the Wal-Mart Trampling Case

Showing my age, when I first heard the story about the Wal-Mart clerk being trampled to death by crazed bargain hunters on this Thanksgiving's Black Friday, my mind immediately recalled those 11 fans trampled to death in the mob's rush for the best seats at a Cinncinnati, Ohio open seating concert for The Who back in 1979.

Being trampled to death must be very painful, and terrifying, don't you think?

The Authorities Are Considering Criminal Charges Against the Shoppers Who Trampled the Clerk

This morning, I read that law enforcement is going over the WalMart surveillance video, and looking to charge those folk who ran over this poor guy on their way to their DoorBusters. The headline reads almost like a Wanted poster, and I'm wondering when CrimeStoppers will get involved (only halfway tongue-in-cheek):

Sought: Wal-Mart shoppers who trampled NY worker.

They're saying that criminal charges are possible -- if they can figure out the identities of those who actually ran over the poor man.

I think about who these people must be, and what they are thinking about right now. Are they going over that horror in their minds, with regret? Or, are they focused on whether or not they are going to be caught, based upon those surveillance videos?

Some Shoppers Got Mad the Store Was Closing Due to the Death

I suppose it's somewhat good news to report that there were those who tried to help - and got hurt in the process. But this is far from making me feel better at the thought that materialism and a Good Deal were so important that people ran like cattle over this clerk. What is this telling us as a society? Is Elmo that important?

And, can you believe that there were shoppers who actually got angry because WalMart announced the store was closing due to this man's death? WHAT? Did they expect to carry their bags out, and manuever their carts, around the yellow crime scene tape? Did this death mean so very, very little to them?

This saddens me. And, it makes me wonder about what's going on in the minds and hearts of those who did this deed. No one's come forward with mea culpa. Are they still as self-absorbed as they were on Friday morning?

Sensationalism On the Heels of Materialism

It also saddens me that lots of sensationalized media stories will end up making advertising dollars for various publications, online and not, based upon this holiday tragedy.

One bright note: early on, if you wanted to check out a cellphone video of the event, you could see it online. Then, YouTube took the video down for Terms of Use Violation. Thank you, YouTube.

Who Was the Guy Who Got Trampled? The Clerk Who Opened the Door

By the way, it was a 34-year-old man named Jdimytai Damour who died in that shopper's rush. He was the guy who unlocked the doors for these people to enter the store to shop for the early-bird specials.

Rest in Peace, Jdimytai Damour: 1974 - 2008.

My sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Jdimytai Damour. I hope and pray that somehow, someday your holidays - especially Thanksgiving, a day dedicated to recognizing one's blessings with gratitude - can become something of joy and peace once again, despite this terrible tragedy and the horrific memory you must now carry with you.

Again, I am so sorry this has happened to you all.