One of the most popular shopping events in the US turned ugly for several shoppers, who were present at Walmart on Black Friday.
Black Friday, an annual event, is the day when all items at the store would be available at heavily discounted prices.
However, fights broke out at several Walmart outlets across the country this time, including Beaumont, Texas; Jordan Creek, Iowa; Johnson City, Tennessee and Rialto, California. Eyewitnesses said that the heavy rush, coupled with shoppers trying to cut in line, sparked the fights.
It has also been reported that a person was stabbed in the Walmart car park in Claypool Hill, Virginia. An ambulance was called to take the injured to the hospital.
The fights were first reported on Twitter and Facebook, by shoppers who were present at the various outlets. However, Walmart spokesperson Brooke Buchanan told an American daily that the reported fights did not accurately depict the events.
"We've got great feedback from customers and associates across the country. A few tweets aren't representative of what's actually happening at 4,600 stores," he pointed out.
According to the American Retail Federation, stores such as Walmart make up for 20-40 percent of their annual sales during the Thanksgiving weekend.
The latest incidents have made matters worse for the retail giant as both workers and shoppers slammed the organization for commercializing family holidays, as well as forcing workers to report to work on Thanksgiving.
