Air Jordans

New Air Jordans cause nationwide shopping frenzy

In suburban Seattle, police used pepper spray on about 20 customers who started fighting at the Westfield Southcenter mall. The crowd started gathering at four stores in the mall around midnight and had grown to more than 1,000 people by 4 a.m., when the stores opened, Tukwila Officer Mike Murphy said. Murphy said no injuries were reported, although some people suffered cuts or scrapes from fights. Shoppers also broke two doors, and 18-year-old man was arrested for assault after authorities say he punched an officer.

The $180 shoes went on sale Friday in a limited release at stores, and the lines began forming several hours before businesses opened.

A man was stabbed when a brawl broke out between several people waiting in line at a Jersey City, N.J., mall to buy the new shoes, authorities said. In Richmond, Calif., police say crowds waiting to buy the Air Jordan 11 Retro Concords at the Hilltop Mall were turned away after a gunshot rang out around 7 a.m.

Some people were mugged or even killed for early versions of the shoe, created by Nike Inc. in 1985.

Police say a 21-year-old man was arrested.

In Toledo, Ohio, police said they arrested three people after a crowd surged into a mall.

In Lithonia, Ga., at least four people were apparently arrested after customers broke down a door at a store selling the shoes. DeKalb County police said up to 20 squad cars responded.

Murphy said police smelled marijuana and found alcohol containers at the scene.

The Southcenter mall's stores sold out of the Air Jordans, and all but about 50 people got a pair, Murphy said.

Air Jordans cause shopping frenzy across U.S.

Nike's new Air Jordan shoe caused a shopping frenzy when it debuted in stores. Police across the country reported fights, trampled shoppers and in some cities, pepper spray was used on crowds. (Dec. 23)

Air Jordans

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