Posted on 01/04/2007 12:53:12 PM PST by Cagey
SUMMERFIELD, Fla. -- Children squirting pepper spray in a Wal-Mart store in Marion County may have caused 30 people to become violently ill and prompted the evacuation of nearly 700 customers and employees, according to Marion County officials.
A 911 call was made by a Wal-Mart manager Wednesday afternoon after he noticed many people coughing and choking in the store. The same manager also reported that a similar incident occurred Tuesday night during the call.
When emergency workers arrived, several people reported having trouble breathing and the number quickly escalated.
Eight people were transported to hospitals for evaluation and many others were treated at the scene.
After the building was evacuated, a Marion County Fire-Rescue hazmat crew entered the 185,000-square-foot building on 178th Street and South 441 to evaluate the structure.
Officials said no hazardous materials were located and technicians said the mystery substance may have dissipated when the building was ventilated.
"It is unknown what may have caused the symptoms," a Marion County Fire-Rescue press release said. However, officials suspect children may have squirted pepper spray in the store.
Emergency crews said the substance may have originated in the automotive section of the store.
The store was reopened Thursday even though a cause for the incident was unknown.
Cotton Candy?
He who smelt it, dealt it.
Sounds like the new shipment of Happy Fun Balls has arrived!
1st they say pepper spray, then they claim no known cause. I'm confused.
It's journalism. They can say anything they want. It's not like people expect it to be true.
Who lets their kids "squirt" pepper spray in a store as though it's a toy? This is just another reason I hate going to these stores....people let their kids run wild.
A few Thanksgivings ago, my aunt was accidentally sprayed in the face with that stuff. Someone tossed a keychain with a small mace on it - it hit a table and went off. She was in agony for hours.
Why not adults?
"This is just another reason I hate going to these stores..."
I have to say that I'm probably a member of a very small minority that have never even stepped foot into a Wal-Mart. And most likely never will.
What's interesting about this is that Ocala is largely populated by elderly retirees from points north, and their kids are adults.
This Isn't The first time this has happened. This was a diversion for a gang of thieves. Security breaks down when panic occurs. Perfect opportunity to steal pricey items. Not a surprise this began in the automotive. You can be sure tires and other expensive items were flying out of the store.
If I had to guess, I'd say roughly half of Ocala is retirement age and beyond. That leaves plenty of young families and kids to go around.
I see just as many badly mannered kids at Neiman's and Macy's. This woman who obviously had a few dollars to spare by the way she was dressed....was at the Macy's Chanel counter buying a load of makeup and perfume....her kids were digging their fingers in the makeup display and smearing it all over the counters and display windows. At one point the boy, about 7, had managed to jiggle loose one of the new foundations and spray it all over the front panel windows of the main counter.....his mom laughed and said she thought he might have some artistic talent. I leaned over and said....Yeah...he looks like a real genius....a Jackson Pollack in the making.....and I walked away.....LOL!
I think you nailed it.
"It is unknown what may have caused the symptoms," a Marion County Fire-Rescue press release said. However, officials suspect children may have squirted pepper spray in the store.
Interesting responses on this thread to this guy's baseless guess.
Blue-light special in automotive! Did they lock the doors against opportunists?
Either we are equal or we are not. Good people ought to be armed where they will, with wits and guns. NRA KMA
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