Shoppers in Elkton Trample Each Other for X-Box

Elkton police say some customers were knocked down and trampled in a rush for the new Xbox 360 game system late Monday night at the 24-hour Wal-Mart Supercenter.

When it was over, the crowd of about 300 was told that the sale of the machines would be postponed until Tuesday, but a few who ignored instructions to go home were able to buy the systems anyway.

The shoving began when a store manager told the waiting crowd the machines would be sold on a first-come, first-served basis.

Police say nobody was seriously hurt during the crush to form a new line.

Ten police officers were needed to restore order. That's when the store canceled the sale and the crowd was told to leave.

Shoppers who didn't leave, however, were later able to buy the game machines.

A store employee named Cindy tells The Cecil Whig, the sale wasn't very well planned.

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)