Posted on 11/28/2008 10:24:12 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
PALM DESERT, Calif. – Two men pulled guns and shot each other to death in a crowded toy store Friday after the women with them erupted into a bloody brawl, witnesses said. Scared shoppers fled but no one else was hurt.
The violence erupted on Black Friday, the traditional post-Thanksgiving start of the holiday shopping surge, but authorities indicated the shooting wasn't related to a shopping frenzy.
Riverside County sheriff's Sgt. Dennis Gutierrez said the fight was not over a toy. He said handguns were found by the men's bodies, but he released little other information. He would not answer a question about whether the shooting was gang-related.
Witnesses Scott and Joan Barrick said they were checking out of the store when the fight began between two women, each with a man. The women were near the checkout area, but the Barricks did not think the women had purchases.
One woman suddenly started punching the other woman, who fought back as blood flowed from her nose, Scott Barrick, 41, said.
The man who was with the woman being punched pulled a gun halfway out of his pocket, then shoved it back in, he said.
"He pulled his gun right next to me. I turned to look for my wife, and she was already hiding," Barrick said.
"I was scared," said Joan Barrick, 40. "I didn't want to die today. I really didn't want to die today, and I think that's what we were all thinking."
The other man pulled a gun and pointed it at the first man but forgot to cock it, Scott Barrick said. The first man tried to run but was blocked by the line of people, then ran back toward the store's electronics section as the other man fired his gun, he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Strange.
Absolutely.
Sounds like the Sharks and the Jets went shopping at Toys R Us instead of meeting under the highway for their rumble.
Check later for a Darwin award.
Good shooting on the part of both participants. At least they didn’t take anyone else with them.
Palm Desert? Palm Desert is a fairly ritzy retirement and winter resort town. The average age must be pushing 70. That’s about the last place I’d ever worry about getting shot.
“I went to buy a toy and all I got was this lousy ...... death.”
“Obviously not gang related or nothing phoomp” ping.
Two less gang members for the police to worry about.
That’s the only good thing I can find to say about this.
Weird story, but a happy ending. This is exactly why Ca. needs CCW.
Guess they shouldn’t have watched “Jingle All the Way” before they went shopping.
There was probably conflict between these people before they got to the store. My concern is that we are now going to be bombarded with sensational coverage of shootings.
Now that Obama is in charge the media will help create the climate to implement additional restrictions on firearms ownership.
Lord help us if either of the deceased held a carry permit.
Just another ho-hum story in modern America. It’s tragic that no one is outraged by this increasing phenomenon of
radom murder.
Murderer is excused but capitol punishment is evil.
City spokeswoman Sheila Gilligan said police told her the shooting broke out between "two groups of individuals that have a dispute with each other."
and
The victims were identified as Alejandro Moreno, 39, of Desert Hot Springs, and Juan Meza, 28, of Cathedral City.
Authorities: Two handguns found near bodies of victims in Toys R Us shooting
Still not much info on the perps/vics.
Shooting at a Toys R Us in Palm Desert [CA]
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2139721/posts
Memo to myself: never ever fight over a toy even if I had my hands on it first.
MS13 vs Latin Kings? Coming soon to a neighborhood Toys-R-Us near you.
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