Black Friday Shootings: Las Vegas Customer, Illinois Shoplifter Both Shot, Numerous Others Injured Across Country

Black Friday shoppers annually face a mammoth rush to find the cheapest purchases, which often leads to sporadic outbreaks of violence across the country.

2013 has been no different, and the frenzied pursuit of thousands upon thousands of customers has resulted in assaults, stabbings, and even shootings across the United States during the last 24 hours.

In Las Vegas, a shopper was shot late on Thursday night at around 9:45pm. It’s believed that a thief attacked the man and attempted to grab his newly purchased big screen television from his grasp.

After firing two warning shots to scare the man, the robber took the TV and began to load it into his vehicle. However, the victim decided to retaliate, and when he approached the suspect, he was shot in the leg.

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police’s Lt. Gordon told NBC News,”As the victim was walking through his complex he was approached by a suspect who fired warning shots which caused the victim to release the television.”

He then described the scene after the victim had approached the robber, noting, “The suspect fired two more shots and the victim was struck in the leg.” Gordon did go on to confirm that he wasn’t seriously injured in the incident.

In Chicago, a police officer resorted to shooting a shoplifter in the shoulder as he drove away from the scene of a crime while dragging a fellow officer along with him.

The officers were responding to an alleged shoplifting scene in Chicago, Illinois, which had taken place just after 10 pm on Thursday evening.

It’s believed that two people had taken clothes from a Kohl’s store in a southwest suburb. Mark Turvey, who is the police chief in Romeoville, Illinois, stated, “As officers approached the front door, one of the two subjects ran out the door into the parking lot,” this then lead one of the officers to chase him to a waiting car.

Turvey then continued, “The officer was struggling with the subject as he got into the car and then the car started to move as the officer was partially inside the car. The officer was dragged quite some distance. He couldn’t get out.”

The wounded driver of the car and the injured officer were then taken to a local hospital, where they were treated for their injuries.

A brawl also erupted at a Walmart after people cut in line to grab a television. There have been numerous other minor altercations across the country from people seeking cheap deals.