Woman Pepper Sprays Other Customers to Gain Black Friday Advantage [VIDEO]

Perhaps emboldened by the actions of the "Pepper Spraying Cop," a customer at a WalMart awaiting Black Friday doorbusters deliberately and without provocation (aside from trying to get perhaps get access to more doorbusters) used pepper spray on other customers late Thursday night, causing minor injuries to at least 10 people.

[The "Pepper Spraying Cop," of course, is Lt. John Pike, a U.C. Davis campus cop who has become an Internet meme after he "casually" pepper sprayed students who were sitting peacefully in an "Occupy Davis" protest. Despite claims by UC Davis police to the contrary, video evidence (see link) and even a Fox News anchor admit that the police were not threatened by the students.

Perhaps the "Pepper Spraying Shopper" will become a meme, as well.]

It was certainly an interesting way to get to the front of the line at WalMart. WalMart was among the big retailers who started their Black Friday events on Thanksgiving itself, with WalMart opening at 10 p.m. on Thanksgiving evening. We can only hope it does not become something we see more often.

Lt. Abel Parga of the Los Angeles Police Department's Devonshire station said "It was an unhappy customer.'' The incident occurred at the Wal-Mart at 19821 Rinaldi Street, at 10:10 p.m., which would have been shortly after doors opened.

The suspect reportedly wanted to get more doorbusters, which retailers call items in limited supply at incredibly lowered promotional pricing. The suspect, a woman, then left the store.

According to a witness, the incident began as people waited in line for an Xbox 360 promotion. Although WalMart opened at 10 p.m., electronics deals were not set to being until 12:01 a.m., on Black Friday itself. According to the report, a woman with two children became upset at the way people were pushing in line. As noted, they would have had to continue to wait for two more hours.

Realistically, this means she was just ticked off, not trying to gain an advantage in line. Still, it was a silly move, if she wanted any doorbusters at all. By the time she reached another WalMart, her chances at the Xbox 360 deal would be gone.

The witness said that the woman pulled out a canister of pepper spray and sprayed the other people in line. She apparently "got away," but police were said to be reviewing security tape. Only one person needed to be transported to a hospital for treatment.

In addition to security tape, though, a customer recorded video of his own about the incident. You can view it below.

Image Source: Wikimedia Commons

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