Wal-Mart worker burns self to death in parking lot

Wal-Mart worker burns self to death in parking lot
February 27, 2009 8:42 AM | No Comments | UPDATED STORY
A 58-year-old Wal-Mart employee who said he "couldn't take it anymore" lit himself on fire outside the Bloomingdale store where he worked late Thursday night and was later pronounced dead at a hospital, authorities said this morning.

The Carol Stream man, who worked the overnight shift, was in a parking lot of an adjacent sporting goods store in the west suburban strip mall when he set himself on fire with lighter fluid around 10 p.m., said Randy Sater, a watch commander with the Bloomingdale Police Department.

At least 10 people, including some teenagers, witnessed the suicide and several attempted to help the man by throwing their coats on top of him in an effort to put out the flames, he said.

"He said he didn't want any help and threw the coats off," Sater said.

When one of the first officers tried to speak to the man, who by that time was severely burned, he responded, "I just couldn't take it anymore," Sater said, citing the officer's report.

A store manager, who identified himself only as Erwin, had no explanation for the suicide. he said the man had not been laid off.

Wal-Mart corporate spokesman Dan Fogleman said the man had worked for the company for a little over 7 years, most recently as an overnight stocker. He said he had spoken with a member of the store's management who described him as "a good guy and fun to be around."

He called the suicide "a tragic situation, and our thoughts and prayers are with the friends and family."

Wal-Mart was cooperating with authorities in their investigation, he said, but he declined to "speculate" on whether the man had been in to work last night before the incident or had spoken with any employees.

"That's not something we'd be able to share publicly," Fogleman said, saying those issues are considered personnel matters.

The man was rushed to Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove before being transferred to the burn unit at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood. He was pronounced dead there at 12:42 a.m., according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

A woman who answered the phone at the family's Carol Stream home and identified herself as his cousin said the family was grieving and declined further comment.

ANd he posted it in HOT Topics LMFAO OMG You are fucking funny dude LOL

That last line pisses me off. Obviously the family would be grieving, but the fucking press calls them to annoy them anyway! What they fuck did they expect the family to say?

Walmart is so damned cheap. They probably didn't even offer anyone marshmallows to roast.

Does it suck that bad to work at Walmart?

submarinepainter wrote:Does it suck that bad to work at Walmart?

No, he was a loser probably anyway. I rather enjoyed my job at wal-mart and had gotten several pay increases in less than a year

I like walmarts popcorn they never burn it!!

libertarianandproud wrote:I like walmarts popcorn they never burn it!!

you and that sleeve of popcorn , what a tard