Child Killed By Falling Mirror At Wal-Mart

The Indy Channel ^ | 7-23-2006

[Samwise]

INDIANAPOLIS -- A 3-year-old boy was fatally injured when a floor-mounted mirror fell on him at an Indianapolis Wal-Mart.

Police said Christopher Antonio was apparently playing near the 5-foot-tall mirror in the children's section of the store Saturday evening when it fell at the store in the 3200 block of 86th Street.

The boy was with his 5-year-old sister and his mother. The mother told police she was about 5 feet away from her son when she heard a loud crash.

Police said it took two people to pull the mirror off the boy.

[N3WBI3]

I blame the parent because the parent was clueless.

Right cause you never, not once lost track of your kids for 5 seconds while you were dealing with another of your kids! I have a great deal of trouble believing anything you might say if you're honestly trying to convince us you're the Uber parent of the century..

[DJ MacWoW]

The point is that you need to watch your kids like a hawk and not expect they are safe in a public venue.

This story is heartbreaking but there are facts in the article. My kids are now adults but I have grandkids and I WILL keep control of them in a store the same way I did their parents whether they are in a cart or holding my hand. Parents should never trust someone else to make certain that an area is safe.

[two134711]

I don't think Wal Mart should be responsible for designing and installing mirrors that will withstand being played with by children. It's common sense not to let your kids play with such things.

How do you know the kid was playing? If the mirror was properly secured, then how could a 3 year old have been strong enough to cause it to fall? Especially if it took two adults to lift it off his body. Presumably they were in the clothing section when this happened, so this wasn't a dangerous area. A person should be able to turn their head for a few moments without worrying about a heavy item falling. If an old lady's scooter nudged into the mirror and it fell on her, would wouldn't that be equally tragic and senseless?

Walmart--any store--should leave ample room for customers to shop, aisles free of clutter and spills and heavy items secured safely. That IS their responsibility.

[Skooz]

If he wasn't playing, he must have been doing something constructive at the age of 3, right?

Most of us call that "tagging along with mom while she shops at WalMart."

It has EVERYTHING to do with this case. What control did she have of WalMart?!

Nope. You said: "It is NOT safe to let a child wander off in an environment that you have no control over."

The child did not "wonder off." He was FIVE FEET AWAY. That's why your make believe scenario has nothing to do with this case.

No ones arms are 5 ft long.

I didn't say they were. I said this: "It is easy for a normal sized person to reach for something 5 feet away. Most people don't have to take a step. Some will have to take one step."

Do you know for a fact, since you claim you're using them, that the mirror wasn't secured?

If a 3 year old can pull it over, then, no, it wasn't secured.

My kids were always under my control no matter their age.

Good for you. Mine are, as well.

This Mom, tragically, did not have her kids under her control.

Baseless assumption.

[N3WBI3]

Whats funny is that minus your disclaimer it reads just like some of the post from our local Uber parents..

[DJ MacWoW]

Yes, it is a tragic accident. However there is no way of knowing it "could" have been prevented. The mirror could very well have fallen on someone else, possibly the child's mother if there location had been reversed.

There is not enough information provided to determine who, if anyone is at fault here.

The Mom was at least 5 feet away according to the article. If she'd had the 3 yr old beside her.........

And that makes it more of a heartbreak.

[Skooz]

Kidnappings have occurred at Wal-Mart, muggings have occurred at Wal-Mart. It is not OK to leave a child unattended just because this is the USA.

True. But walking with your child 5 feet away is far from leaving the child unattended.

[two134711]

No one has said they were happy about the incident...

True. But some did show immediate concern for Walmart's rising prices and falling profits, which is creepy, IMO.

[DJ MacWoW]

I am to assume then that at Church or the park you never let your kid get more than 5 ft away?

There are mirrors, racks of clothes and stock piled above your head at those places? Who knew?

[N3WBI3]

If he wasn't playing, he must have been doing something constructive at the age of 3, right?

False Dichotomy: You are stating either he was reading war and piece or he was running around playing... Maybe, just maybe he was looking at a toy near the Mirror, maybe taking it off the shelf but not in a manner that is 'playing'.

What control did she have of WalMart?!

The question could be asked what control does walmart have over how well it secures heavy objects in its kids department

Fact is we don't know who's, if anyones, fault this it. Freak accidents happen, even to perfect parents like you be careful in what you boast because, Lord forbid, someday you or someone you love might need a compassionate friend after such an accident..

[PattonFan]

The child should be safe in the child's department area of any store. Its Walmarts job to make sure of that.
You are saying it is Walmarts job to ensure the safety of every child in the child's department of ANY store?

Next, parents will be suing Walmart to provide graham crackers and milk because little johnny got hungry while in the child's department..

[doc30]

In my post I described two possible scenarios: a) the child caused the mirror to fall and b) the mirror mounting failed while the child was under it. You suggested a third, that someone else hit the mirror and it fell. The whole point is that something caused the mirror to fall. The police report did say the child was playing near the mirror. Only once the actual cause of the falling mirror is clearly established can blame be accurately applied. But the possible nature of the falling mirror can be ascribed to discrete categories.

And I agree about having ample room and clutter free ailses. That's one reason why I typically avoid my local Wal Mart.

[HungarianGypsy]

Actually what we need to do is build new cabinets. They are cheap ones the former owner put in. I just didn't expect the drawer to practically jump at him. I have two witnesses (his older siblings) who both said he never touched it. Weird things just happen around our house sometimes. Ugh!

At this time I want to mention the three year old who was playing near the mirror. Playing near a mirror could consist of making faces in it. Playing near a mirror could be playing on the floor next to it. The article is not specific enough. A few weeks ago we bought a new washer. Since the store wasn't very big and was empty we had our boys wait on the couches in front of the store. I turned away for a few seconds at a time (yes, I must be a bad parent) and would check back. When they were out of eyesight I panicked for a second. They were on the checkered carpet jumping from square to square. The manager at the store was impressed that three boys could be so quiet and well behaved as long as they were. My point being that the phrase "playing" wasn't specific enough.

[najida]

Excellent post.

[lwg8tr]

Your right, the mother is worse than Andrea Yates and should be drawn and quartered. 5 feet away is a whole 58 inches and that's too damn much to let a tike out of reach. Do you wrap your kids in bubble tape every time you leave the house? Ah..another contrarian Freeper wanting to argue the world's flat. Your assertion is idiotic, I'd drop it.

[M0sby]

I HAVE to agree that 5 feet is very close!
AND...as far as someone suggesting that 3 year olds SHOULD be IN the cart...
Well...my 3 year can sort of still fit in the cart...but BARELY...I MEAN BARELY!
He doesn't really care about BEING in the cart...but trying to get in it usually causes tears.
His legs are just too long...(and in case ANYONE wants to suggest that he is TOO FAT...he is 43 inches tall and weighs 43 pounds)

That being said..there have been many, MANY times when my kids have been farther than 5 feet away from me. (GASP!!)
If I stop to look at candles or plants or WHATEVER, and they ask if they can go "over here" (still in sight) to look at the comic books, or the cartoon beach towels, or the fish OR WHATEVER I will certainly let them as long as I can see them and HEAR THEM~
If they are being well behaved they are allowed to walk away from the cart to look at "stuff"...if not...they have to have a hand on the cart.
You are SO right about the mom having a reasonable expectation about heavy fixtures..
I CERTAINLY have that same expectation.

I really LIKE Walmart..our local store is just fine. It isn't what you would call "very nice" or anything..but it is NO DIFFERENT than going to a grocery store.

I am so very sad for this family.
I would hope that as these people decide to criticize the parents or Walmart or the child...that they first stop to at least mutter a prayer of support for the family. Or at least, a bit of thanks that it wasn't them.

[N3WBI3]

LOL, ever hear of Stairs, Candles, Crosses (Some of which hang and are rather large)? You seriously think because its a church there are not things there a kid could do to hurt themselves?

[PattonFan]

Well, OK, some of us have shown immediate empathy for Walmart, but both sides seem to have legitimate points.

I'm going to have to work a bit now, if I don't get back to anyone for awhile, its not because I cant stand the heat..

[RandallFlagg]

I hate to inform you, but Starbucks would not exist if not for lefties swilling $4 cups of that coffee.

And the insane Left hates WalMart more than the logging industry and Starbucks combined.

Oh, the irony.