Fights broke out and police officers were called in to stop customers from unruly behavior on Friday across the nation as a result of the new Nike Air Jordan shoes going on sale. The release of the shoes, which are a retro model of the most popular Nike Air Jordan shoes ever made, causes a lot of problems in stores this past weekend.
Mayhem occurred in states from Georgia to Washington, with memories from 20 years ago on the mind, when the first Air Jordan shoes were released. The shoes became popular targets for thieves then and it is feared that it will be the same now. It was not Black Friday when the shoes were released, although the crowds sure made it seem like it was.
Seattle police officers had to utilize pepper spray on 20 patrons who began fighting at the Westfield Southcenter Mall. Four stores in the mall were selling the shoes, which is where crowds began gathering around 4 a.m. There were roughly 1,000 people waiting in the lines for the stores, with pushing and shoving beginning to escalate before the stores opened.
No injuries were reported in the scuffle, but some did suffer scrapes and cuts from the fighting. Two doors were broken by shoppers and an 18-year-old man was arrested for assault after he punched a police officer. The Nike Air Jordan shoes cost $180 per pair and went on sale in limited quantities at brick and mortar stores.
In Jersey City, New Jersey, one male shopper was stabbed when a brawl occurred at a mall selling the new shoes. Authorities claim that the 20-year-old man is expected to recover from his stabbing injuries.
Two toddlers were rescued from their car in Georgia when their mother left them in the vehicle in order to go into a store to purchase the shoes. The woman was arrested upon returning to her vehicle.
At 7 a.m. in Richmond, California, shoppers were sent home when a gunshot was heard at the Hilltop Mall where patrons were waiting to purchase the new shoes. There were no injuries reported by authorities, who did take a 24-year-old suspect into custody. It was reported that the gun went off accidentally.
Air Jordan shoes were first created by Nike in 1984 and they have become a popular item since their first release. People have been mugged and even killed for their shoes. The popularity of the shoes had dropped over the past couple of years, with not that many new models being released by Nike, but the violence this past Friday seems to be following a trend that has occurred during this year’s holiday shopping season. For instance, a woman shopping at a Wal-Mart in Los Angeles released pepper spray on other shoppers on Black Friday while hoards of people looted a clothing store in New York.
Nike issued the following statement in response to the violence that occurred on Friday:
“Consumer safety and security is of paramount importance. We encourage anyone wishing to purchase our product to do so in a respectful and safe manner.”