Target Store Rush
It was a mob scene at many Target stores around the Southland and across the country this morning as the chain’s “Missoni For Target” line made its public debut.
The line around the West Hollywood Target store reportedly wrapped around the store twice, according to KTLA, and shopper Jennifer Wolfe tweeted that the West Hollywood store sold out in under 30 minutes. Another shopper, Bill Horn, posted a photo of shoppers waiting hopefully outside the storage room of the same location.
At the South Culver City location, the line that snaked around Target had reportedly begun forming at 5:30 a.m., according to Racked LA. When the store opened at 8 a.m., they saw was a sad scene.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/13/missoni-for-target-los-an_n_960595.html
NFL Pat Downs to Increase
NFL to ramp up security at stadiums in wake of stun gun attack during Jets-Cowboys game
BY Larry Mcshane
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Friday, September 16th 2011, 12:42 PM
Fans can expect more contact this weekend at NFL stadiums – on their way inside the stadium.
The league’s 32 teams will greet boosters this Sunday by boosting security, with fans subjected to a more hands-on patdown policy, Reuters reported.
The NFL now wants all fans patted from the ankles up, rather than from the waist up – a decision likely to create longer lines to get inside the stadiums.
“We encourage fans to come early, enjoy their tailgating and be patient as they enter the stadium,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told the wire service.
The waist-up patdown policy went into effect in 2005. McCarthy said the new approach is likely to take some getting used to by the hundreds of thousands of Sunday attendees.
The NFL’s official confirmation of the fuller body search comes in the aftermath of a fan zapping three people with a taser-like device at last Sunday’s Jets-Cowboys game in MetLife Stadium.
Taser snuck into Jets v. Cowboys game
Cowboys fan uses Taser gun on Jets crowd at MetLife Stadium despite security on 9/11 anniversary
BY Gary Myers, Frank Digiacomo AND Bill Hutchinson
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS
A diehard Cowboys fan wildly fired a stun gun in a crowd at MetLife Stadium in the Meadowlands injuring three people, including a Marine, cops said Monday.
Leroy McKelvey, 59, of Moncks Corner, S.C., used a Taser gun on Jets fans during an upper-deck brawl at halftime Sunday night, said Sgt. Julian Castellanos of the New Jersey State Police.
McKelvey is the father of Power 105.1 deejay Charlamagne Tha God, co-host of “The Breakfast Club.”
Three men suffered minor injuries in the fracas at the nationally televised football game.
The melee erupted after a Marine became annoyed at McKelvey and his friends for not taking their hats off or standing during the National Anthem and speaking loudly during “Taps” and “Amazing Grace.”
Witnesses told cops McKelvey got into a fight with the Marine, who was sitting at the end of his row in section 324 and refused to let him out to go to the restroom at halftime.
McKelvey pulled a stun gun from his pocket and fired, hitting the unidentified Marine in the neck and sending him tumbling down six rows, witnesses told cops.
The suspect’s son said that his dad is a devout Jehovah’s Witness and doesn’t believe in standing for the Pledge of Allegiance or National Anthem.
“He’s not a violent guy at all. He just likes to have fun,” Charlamagne Tha God told the Daily News. “I would hope that an altercation didn’t happen because of him not standing for the National Anthem.”
It was not immediately clear how McKelvey snuck a Taser into MetLife Stadium, where there was tight security because of the 10th anniversary of 9/11 and because former President George W. Bush was at the game.
McKelvey’s son blamed Jets coach Rex Ryan for creating a hostile environment at the game by saying in earlier press conferences that “it’s probably not recommended that you wear Cowboys stuff” to MetLife Stadium.
“He shouldn’t have had a taser on him. But I really feel he took a risk because he felt threatened,” said Charlamagne Tha God, explaining his father was wearing a Cowboys hat and jersey and sports tattoos of Cowboy stars on his shoulder and right forearm.
He said his dad suffered a broken nose in the fight.
“He got jumped by Jets fans when the Cowboys were leading by two touchdowns, so he was just defending himself,” the son said.
The Jets mounted a second-half comeback to win the season opener 27-24.
McKelvey was charged with felony aggravated assault, felony possession of a stun gun and illegal possession of a weapon.
His son posted the $22,500 bail and was waiting Monday night for his father to be released from Bergen County Jail.
Rocks injure concert goers
Rocks Amphitheatre
being inspected after
rock fall injures 7
concertgoers
Updated: September 12, 2011 – 2:01 PM
that the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheater is
safe after rocks fell on concertgoers,
injuring seven people and sending four of
them to the hospital.
Witnesses told KMGH-TV ( http://bit.
ly/o5opZC) that rocks rained down on
people sitting near the front left side of the
stage during a concert, injuring some
severely on Sunday. A spokeswoman for
West Metro Fire Rescue said the names of the
victims and extent of the injuries were not
immediately available.
The naturally formed amphitheater tucked in
the foothills west of Denver has two, 300-
foot sandstone monoliths, dubbed Ship Rock
rocks fell from Creation Rock on the north
side of the theater.
The stage has served as a venue for top-
flight performers, ranging from the Beatles
to John Denver. Former President George
Bush and other politicians made campaign
stops there, and it has been the backdrop
for a number of movies.
Denver cultural affairs spokeswoman Kristin
Rust said investigators may never know what
caused rocks to fall on spectators around 1
a.m. Sunday during the last segment of a
concert by the band Sound Tribe Sector 9.
Some witnesses reported seeing people
climbing on the rocks before the incident.
“At this point, we still do not know what
cause it, human or nature,” she said.
She said about 100 staffers, including
security, medical attendants and police,
attend major events at the venue. She said
more security officials will be assigned to the
monoliths for the rest of the year, and her
department will see if more permanent
changes are needed next year.
http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/music/129669208.html
Chat Downs
The September 12-18th issue of Business Week highlighted how TASA is piloting a program focused on “chat-downs” rather than “pat-downs.” While pat-downs are still the norm, TASA is piloting several programs where their agents, both in uniform and undercover, try to listen to travelers, mingle with crowds, and explicitly ask questions of anyone they think is suspicious. Utilizing a technique similar to what Israel uses for airport screening, it is hoped that travelers would be more than willing to answer questions and through proper training, the questionnaires can spot suspicious activity or concerns. However, unlike Israel where travelers are used to such questioning and screening, American travelers have treated such efforts with suspicion and have been less than cooperative.
Shooting outside club in FL
ORLANDO, Florida (Reuters) – At least two gunmen armed with possible semi-automatic weapons opened fire outside a Florida nightclub early Saturday morning, killing two people and injuring 22, according to police.
A witness described panic and chaos inside the Club Elite in the town of Palmetto south of Tampa.
“I was on the floor trying not to die,” said Chip “Blu Chip” Hunt, a promoter who works with the club management. “I was between one who got shot in the back of the head and one that got killed and one gentleman that got Bayflighted (airlifted) out.”
Killed were Gwenette Matthews, 38, of Bradenton, and Trayon Goff, 25, of Palmetto, according to Palmetto police spokesman Scott Tyler.
Tyler said the shooters were outside the club, but some bullets passed through the nightclub’s open front door. Police believe at least one of the shooters was on foot and disappeared in a getaway car.
Hunt, who promoted the club’s Friday night “Grown & Sexy” event, said Matthew was socializing inside the club with her sister and was killed by a bullet that came through the front door.
Hunt said the torrent of bullets seemed to be aimed at Goff who was outside, sitting up against the front wall of the building.
“The wall is like Swiss cheese,” said Hunt. “He had so many wounds it was crazy. He got 75 percent of the shots. That’s the one they was after.”
Hunt estimated 150 people were inside the club. Hunt said a security guard, who he said was hit in the back by one bullet, made sure every patron was at least 25 years old and dressed up for the special event.
Hunt said Goff was in a group of younger people who had gathered outside the club. Of those, “he was the only one that got shot (critically). I don’t know if he tried to run and that’s why the bullets came inside the club,” Hunt said.
Tyler said investigators have not yet named suspects or identified a target or motive.
Tyler said most victims were treated and released. Six people were flown to a trauma center in St. Petersburg and one remains in very critical condition, he said.
(Editing by Greg McCune)
http://news.yahoo.com/two-killed-22-injured-shooting-florida-nightclub-200421227.html
Fan Death in England
Wales fan dies after assault reported at Wembley
By ROB HARRIS AP Sports Writer
WEMBLEY, England (AP) – A Wales fan died after an assault was reported outside Wembley Stadium before Tuesday’s match between Wales and England in the Euro 2012 qualifying, authorities said.
The London Ambulance Service said the 44-year-old man suffered a heart attack before kickoff outside the north London stadium and police confirmed that he later died in a hospital.
Six men, who police believe to be Wales supporters, were arrested in connection with the incident which is now being investigated by the Metropolitan Police’s murder team.
The match went ahead, with England winning 1-0, and details of the incident emerged about two hours after the final whistle.
The emergency services were called to the north London stadium 25 minutes before the 7:45 p.m. kickoff.
Police said in a statement that officers were called “to an area outside Wembley Stadium following reports of an assault.”
London Ambulance Service spokesman Alistair Drummond said its staff at the event “attended to the patient within three minutes.”
“They treated a 44-year-old man who had suffered a cardiac arrest,” Drummond said. “Extensive efforts were made to resuscitate the patient and he was taken to hospital.”
The victim has yet to be identified.
“Police believe they know the man’s identity, but await formal identification and confirmation that all next of kin have been informed,” police said. “A post mortem will be scheduled in due course. Officers from the Homicide and Serious Crime Command are investigating.”
Cardiff City confirmed that the victim also supported the Welsh capital club which plays in the second tier of English football.
“Late on Tuesday night, details reached us concerning a tragedy where a Wales and Cardiff City supporter died at the match between England and Wales,” the club said in a statement on its website. “Out of respect for the family of the supporter, the sensitivity of the situation and until full details and circumstances are ascertained, no statements will be made until deemed fit by the proper channels.”
http://news.findlaw.com/ap_stories/s/2050/09-06-2011/20110906172000_34.html?DCMP=NWL-cons_sportslaw