Shoppers worry about their safety

After a deadly shoot-out inside a Palm Desert toy store Friday, shoppers heading to other area retail centers had mixed feelings about whether they felt safe in their bargain hunts.

“It'll make me think twice about going to large department stores like Wal-Mart,” said Yolanda Moody of Moreno Valley, who was shopping at the Mervyn's, 72-280 Highway 111 in Palm Desert, with her grandmother, Maggie Rushing of Palm Springs.

The two arrived at the store late afternoon Friday and paused to look at the taped-off scene at the Toys R Us store across the street where two men were believed to have shot and killed each other after a dispute inside the store.

“This is my first time out on Black Friday and I won't do it again,” Moody said.

“It's not worth being in danger for,” she said.

Other shoppers Friday who heard of the news, however, simply said the incident will make them more cautious.

“I'll still go out shopping, but I'll be more careful and aware of what's around me or where I go,” said Joseph Strohbehn of Twentynine Palms who was leaving Waring Plaza in Palm Desert.

Strohbehn, who used to work in malls and shopping centers, said he has seen firsthand how the holiday season can make people turn ugly and understand how the incident can make others wary.

Wendy Whitehead of Twentynine Palms, who was leaving Old Navy, 72-349 Highway 111 in Palm Desert, said Friday that she is scared to simply bump into someone because of how rude some people could become.

Whitehead said she is considering doing more of her shopping online.

“I think people get hot-headed and simple shopping can turn into a frenzy,” said Jaber Suliemanm of Palm Desert. “But things like this can happen any time, anywhere.”

Otis Archie and Joe Marrow, both of Cathedral City, who were headed into Target, 72-549 Highway 111, in Palm Desert Friday afternoon agreed.

“There's no more of a chance of this happening on Black Friday compared to any other day,” Marrow said.

“We need to look in general at crime in our society and then take more steps to reduce violent crime.”