people riot in malls over new Air Jordans

[evanovitch]

AUSTIN -- People all over Central Texas, and the nation as well, are trying to ge their hands on one of the hottest items of the year: the new Air Jordan tennis shoes.

Around the country, police had to be called in to malls because of the shoes that went on sale early Friday morning.

Foot Lockers in the Highland Mall, Barton Creek and Lakeline Mall planned to have a "soft sale" at 11 p.m. Thursday. Each store was going to sell 150 pairs of Air Jordans before the shoes actually went on sale Friday.

Each store was overwhelmed with crowds when about 1,000 people showed up at each store. In all, about 3,000 people were in line to buy the $180 shoes. The unruly crowds forced Highland Mall to stop the sale and close the entire mall after two police officers were injured.

One was taken to the hospital after he was rushed by the crowd. He had bumps bruises and a rolled ankle. Assitant Police Chief Sean Mannix says police are looking at video surveillance tapes to find the person responsible. He says they will be charged with assault with intent to injure an officer. APD also called in its helicopter for backup.

Some customers at Highland Mall told KVUE that other people in line were pepper spraying others. Austin police have not confirmed that information.

"It's been crazy, police have pulled out mace, threatening to mace people, pushing people back. People have been trying to run over the officers to get into the building," Andrew, a shopper who bought Air Jordans, said.

Though there were no arrests to report from this, police took two men into custody in Staten Island, New York. Authorities used pepper spray in Seattle, where fights broke out.

In Kansas City, people tried sneaking into a mall through a service entrance. And in Richmond, California, shots were even fired when police ordered the shoe sale canceled amid safety concerns.

The new Air Jordans are identical to the ones first introduced 15 years ago and both collectors and fans alike are now in a rush to pick them up

[jah_yout]

Re: people riot in malls over new Air Jordans

i saw the video clips...disgusting;

mas media mind-control at its finest

[Gen]

Re: people riot in malls over new Air Jordans

Mi a try figure out where this rank on the disgusting scale for me. Had to shake mi head when mi see it. People can't a suffer if dem out deh a buy dem ugly shoes yah fi 180.00 ( plus applicable tax)

there was a teen here in NYC (not black) that got arrested at the store. Police that arrived for crowd control tell him fi move (or sitten similar).

His response to the police was that him nah leff till him get him expletive shoes. well, they arrested him and him haffi guh court.

Well, him end up on tv later crying to a reporter who was interviewing him bout how police arrest him and record and hawse dead and cow fat. A guess him did lose him mind earlier when him did a cuss out di police.

His grandfather was also interviewed and managed to mumble something bout the "values of today's young people" dats all him couldan come up with

[CeaBee]

Re: people riot in malls over new Air Jordans

i hear that most of them buy it, and then mark up the price and put it on ebay to sell.

[Gen]

Re: people riot in malls over new Air Jordans

Yes saw one of them minutes after him buy it asking the reporter if him/she want buy it fi 1000.00.