from DaveLF
The only two things I see that might qualify as criminal or at least negligent are 1) asking/making an ordinary employee play security guard and 2) failing to provide or even attempt adequate crowd control even after the crowd became manifestly out of control.
And both of those things are not insignificant. Both of those things contributed to this death.
I found this part of your linked article most illuminating
Mulvey revealed that his department had proactively met with Wal-Mart and with other stores holding Black Friday events, warning of large crowds.
He said police officials instructed Wal-Mart they "had to provide for adequate security," but left it up to the company to determine the amount of security necessary.
"Only they would be able to anticipate how large the crowd would get," he said.
He said it was not the police department's responsibility to provide security.
"This is really not a police responsibility," he said.
The day after Thanksgiving is known as Black Friday because it has traditionally marked the point when a throng of shoppers pushes stores into profitability for the year.
The victim, 34-year-old Jdimytai Damour, came from a temporary agency and was doing maintenance work at the store, Wal-Mart said
It does not matter what did not happen at other stores. The thing that does matter is what happened at this one. And what happened was terrible and could have been prevented by the store management. But they opted for profit over safety of everyone concerned.
So they will pay the price. And that is as it should be. Critics of Wal Mart did not invent this story. They did not create this death out of thin air. This happened at Wal Mart. This happened because of many poor management decisions and an attempt to keep costs down and profits up.
They will pay. I daresay they already are.
Wal Mart - yes, its a job - no, its not worth dying for.