Wal-Mart Pepper-Spraying: LAPD Releases Description of Suspect

Los Angeles police gave a fuller description Friday of the woman who pepper-sprayed fellow shoppers at a Porter Ranch Wal-Mart, apparently in an effort to gain a competitive edge during a Thanksgiving night “Black Friday” sale on video-game consoles.

Police described the woman as a Latina, in her early to late 30s, wearing black pants and a black sweater during the late Thursday night assault. LAPD Det. Gus Villanueva said the woman stands about 5-foot-3 and weighs about 140 pounds.

Although more people may have been affected, 10 customers were treated at the scene by city firefighters, he said. Witnesses said the woman was bent on nabbing an Xbox game console, which was one of the Black Friday specials at the store.

There were reports that the woman managed to buy one of the consoles, and Villanueva said LAPD detectives were reviewing video surveillance and receipts in an effort to identify the suspect.

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