PS3 debut leads to violence, disorder
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- The debut of Sony's PlayStation 3 game console resulted in reports Friday of disorder outside stores throughout the United States, as well as a robbery attempt in Connecticut that left one man shot and wounded.
Police in Putnam, Conn., said fans resisted two armed men in an attempted robbery outside of a Wal-Mart.
According to Lt. J. Paul Vance of the Connecticut State Police, officers were called to the Wal-Mart at 3:15 a.m. ET after two armed men tried to rob people waiting in line to get the PS3 when the store opened.
Shortages: PS3, T.M.X, Elmo, Plasma TVs
Vance told CNNMoney.com that about 15 to 20 people were outside the Wal-Mart (Charts) store when they were confronted by the robbers who demanded money. The lieutenant said one of the men in line was shot after he confronted the armed suspect. The robbers fled the scene after the incident.
Wal-Mart declined to comment on the incident.
Wal-Mart shuts store
In a separate incident, the manager of a 24-hour Wal-Mart supercenter in Palmdale, Calif., shut the store and called the cops after crowds became unruly.
Deputy sheriff Dan McPherson at Palmdale station of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said about 50 to 100 people had gathered outside the store before midnight in the hopes of scoring a PS3.
"We were called after the manager told us that these people were arguing and pushing each other," McPherson said. "We told them they had to leave the premises."
Read the full text here...Parija B. Kavilanz
November 17, 2006
Source: CNN Money