By: Andrew Hackmack
A 34-year-old worker was killed as customers rushed into the Valley Stream Wal-mart on Black Friday. The name of the man has not been released, but according to a Walmart spokeswoman, he was employed from a temporary agency.
Nassau County Police say that the man was knocked to the ground by a rush of customers shortly after the store's 5 a.m. opening. He was pronounced dead an hour later at Franklin Hospital in Valley Stream. The exact cause of the death is undetermined and will be reviewed by the Nassau County medical examiner.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this difficult time," said Kelly Cheeseman, a Walmart corporate spokeswoman.
Cheeseman said that Walmart is fully cooperating with the Nassau County Police Department. The store was closed after the incident. "The safety and security of our customers and associates is our top priority," she said.
A 28-year-old pregnant woman was also transported to an area hospital for observation. Kristen Longo, a spokewoman for North-Shore LIJ, said Franklin Hospital treated four people from the Walmart incident for minor injuries.
Walmart re-opened in the early afternoon and shoppers were not deterred by the morning incident. "That's terrible," said a female shopper, who asked not to be named, upon learning of the employee's death. "I wouldn't come here at 5 o'clock. I don't need anything that bad."
According to an advertisement for the Valley Stream Walmart, the store was offering several deals on Friday from 5 to 11 a.m. including LCD high-definition television sets as low as $388, as well as sales on digital camera, GPS systems and Blu-ray players.
Cardboard covered the glass on an outside door that was damaged as shoppers stampeded at 5 a.m. Several greeters were there to welcome customers but employees would not speak to the press.
Mary Malloy contributed to this story.
