New York: The onset of the annual shopping season in United States -- when people start buying Christmas and New Year gifts for their loved ones -- brought death for three persons in two different shopping complexes.
While two men were shot dead in a toy store in California, an employee of Wal-Mart store in New York was trampled to death when an out-of-control mob of shoppers smashed through the front door of the shop.
The shooting occurred in the toy shop in Palm Beach yesterday and media reports here claim that the shot out was the result of rivalry between two gangs.
According to reports, two gunmen armed with handguns shot and killed each other. Authorities, however, have so far not confirmed the reports.
In another incident, a Wal-Mart worker died in the chain's store in the Long Island, a suburb of New York City, as the mob of shoppers, seeking bargains, smashed through the front door and trampled him.
By the time situation was brought control, 34-year employee was dead and four shoppers, including an eight-month pregnant women, had been injured.
The other employees in the store jumped over the counters to save themselves from the rushing mob.
Traditionally in the US, people start shopping for Christmas on what is called "black Friday," a day after Thanksgiving which is observed on the last Thursday of November.
