In the Internet age, hardcore Black Friday shopping in order to score deals is no longer essential. And with the crazy stories of brawls, stampedes and fights over towels that come out of the famed shopping day, staying at home is looking really good.
Here are six Black Friday stories to keep in mind while planning your Black Friday shopping expedition. Stay safe out there.
1. The Wal-Mart Towel Brawl
A Wal-Mart store in West Memphis, Ark., was reportedly the stage for a fight over inexpensive towels. One Black Friday shopper described the scene as people "risking their lives for a towel set they wanted for their bathroom."
2. The Injured Police Officer
In another unfortunate Wal-Mart incident, a location in Rialto, Calif., had three fights break out last year in the Thursday night leading up to Black Friday. A police officer who attempted to stop a fight between two brawling men suffered a broken wrist and was taken to San Bernardino for treatment.
3. A Suspect on the Run
A police officer was dragged by a car in an Illinois Kohl's parking lot in one of the violent incidents from last Black Friday. Officers shot a driver suspected of shoplifting, hitting the driver in the shoulder and arresting three suspects altogether.
4. Oh No She Didn't
A 29-year-old woman received a ticket for spitting on another woman's child last year at a Wal-Mart in New Jersey. The two were reportedly arguing over infant clothing at the store.
5. 'Shopping Rage' and Pepper Spray
Back in 2011, a woman allegedly used pepper spray on as many as 20 other customers in an attempt to score more Black Friday deals. Around 100 people were in line for video game merchandise when fighting broke out, one officer terming it "customer versus customer 'shopping rage.'"
6. What Even Happened Here?
A fight involving a stun gun and some choice expletives at a not-so-safe distance from a stroller broke out at the Franklin Mills Mall in Philadelphia last year, and video evidence is still available on YouTube.
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