Toy Taking Terrorism

So, you and your friends decide you are going to swipe a toy from Wal-Mart, but an employee sees what you're up to. What do you do?

If you are like these guys, you decide to terrorize the customers of a local Wal-Mart so you can make your escape.

The four men came into the Wal-Mart on Hudson Bridge Road about 10:45 p.m. A store employee saw one of the young men stick a toy inside his pants. The employee went to get assistance, Bolton said.

During that time, the four men went to the area where swimming pool chemicals were stocked. They mixed a chlorine-based chemical with something else, which caused a small explosion and a white cloud.

"They made their escape in the chaos that ensued," Bolton said.

We used to have a pool. The smell of the chemicals by themselves used to give me a headache. The inhalation of those chemicals, by themselves, could cause permanent damage to your lungs.

He said that four people, including one employee, were taken to the hospital complaining of respiratory problems. Three others were treated and released by emergency workers outside the store.

Doesn't it make you wonder what toy is worth scaring a Wal-Mart full of people, and sending four people to the hospital?

[15:15] Update from 11-Alive News :

a Wal-Mart spokesman said Monday morning that while there were some people involved in possible shoplifting at that store Sunday night, they were not connected with the men who set off the chemical reaction inside the store.

"There has been a great deal of miscommunicated information," said Wal-Mart's Michael Mills in Atlanta. "There were two, unrelated incidents. Our store security had been following some [suspected] shoplifters. Somebody [else] took some pool chemicals" from the store shelves, "and created some fumes that got some folks sick."

Mills said security personnel never did stop anyone for shoplifting, and the store is helping police investigate the chemicals incident. "We are reviewing videotape from inside the store and interviewing customers and associates," he said.

I still find it hard to believe there would be two groups of "questionable people" in one Wal-Mart at the same time.