Wal-Mart worker burns self to death after realizing he was working at Wal-Mart - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 02-28-2009, 12:15 AM

A 58-year-old Wal-Mart employee who said he "couldn't take it anymore" lit himself on fire in a parking lot near the Bloomingdale store where he worked late Thursday night and was later pronounced dead at a hospital, authorities said this morning.

In an interview, his son said his father went to work last night with nothing seeming out of the ordinary. "This had nothing to do with the economy. I want to make that clear," he said, adding that the family may never know the reason for the public suicide.

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.

The man set himself afire outside of 328 W. Army Trail Road, and the Wal-Mart is at 314 W. Army Trail Road, in the same mall, Wal-Mart corporate spokesman Dan Fogleman said.

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.

The man "enjoyed his job and living in the 'burbs," his son said. "We were getting ready to redo the front lawn." He added that his father had no health problems.

"You try not to ask yourself the question [why he did it] because there's no answer," the son said.

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

Fogelman said the man had worked for Wal-Mart 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.

http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2...rking-lot.html

catlover79 · 02-28-2009, 12:19 AM

Say what??

Waterston_Fan · 02-28-2009, 01:06 AM

The guy didn't know he was working for Wal-Mart?

browneyes106 · 02-28-2009, 01:57 AM

Maybe he thought he was working at Target.

PunkyP0WER · 02-28-2009, 02:07 AM

i really don't see how his death is related to walmart. his reasons were very vague "...couldn't take "IT" anymore" "IT" could be anything!

robyrob · 02-28-2009, 09:00 AM

it bothers me that the news article missed this rare opportunity to use the term "self-immolation"

- and hopefully this man will be at peace now.

TJL · 02-28-2009, 12:36 PM

That is one disgruntled employee.

TripperFan · 02-28-2009, 12:42 PM

If he worked at Target I could see it. Wal-Mart, not so much.

JT · 02-28-2009, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PunkyP0WER

i really don't see how his death is related to walmart. his reasons were very vague "...couldn't take "IT" anymore" "IT" could be anything!

I agree.

MonarC · 02-28-2009, 01:29 PM

WOW! Whatever happened to just quiting your job? What a painful suicide. So sad.

Chocoholic · 02-28-2009, 07:56 PM

That is so sad.

02-28-2009, 12:15 AM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Wal-Mart worker burns self to death after realizing he was working at Wal-Mart A 58-year-old Wal-Mart employee who said he "couldn't take it anymore" lit himself on fire in a parking lot near the Bloomingdale store where he worked late Thursday night and was later pronounced dead at a hospital, authorities said this morning. In an interview, his son said his father went to work last night with nothing seeming out of the ordinary. "This had nothing to do with the economy. I want to make that clear," he said, adding that the family may never know the reason for the public suicide. 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. The man set himself afire outside of 328 W. Army Trail Road, and the Wal-Mart is at 314 W. Army Trail Road, in the same mall, Wal-Mart corporate spokesman Dan Fogleman said. 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. The man "enjoyed his job and living in the 'burbs," his son said. "We were getting ready to redo the front lawn." He added that his father had no health problems. "You try not to ask yourself the question [why he did it] because there's no answer," the son said. A store manager, who identified himself only as Erwin, had no explanation for the suicide. he said the man had not been laid off. Fogelman said the man had worked for Wal-Mart 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. http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2...rking-lot.html
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

02-28-2009, 12:19 AM	#2
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	Say what??
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

02-28-2009, 02:07 AM	#5
PunkyP0WER Member Senior Member Join Date: May 23, 2008 Location: MACY*S on 34th St. Posts: 1,908	i really don't see how his death is related to walmart. his reasons were very vague "...couldn't take "IT" anymore" "IT" could be anything!
	__________________ Faith is believing in things when common sense tells you not to. - Fred Gailey & Doris Walker It was the movie that no one thought would be a hit It was the sleeper a studio had no idea how to sell And its success was even more miraculous because this Christmas present was opened in June! Fred & Doris Gailey FOREVER! That's the magic of *macys**

02-28-2009, 09:00 AM	#6
robyrob certified wackball#3 Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Aug 03, 2003 Location: hiding under the third booth at Arnold's Posts: 58,200	it bothers me that the news article missed this rare opportunity to use the term "self-immolation" - and hopefully this man will be at peace now.
	__________________ * firefox * AdAware * HiJackThis * CoolWebShredder * Spybot * SpywareBlaster * Spyware Terminator * * GeeksToGo * AntiVir * Avast antivirus * Housecall Online * Sysinternals Security Utilities * * ZoneAlarm * Agnitum-firewall * Comodo Firewall * AVG Anti-Rootkit * RootkitRevealer * ParasiteCheck * * Annoyances * FreeCodecs * Mikes-Hosts-File * GRC.com * MSAntispyware * DVD's * TradeList * myspace *

02-28-2009, 12:36 PM	#7
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,588	That is one disgruntled employee.
	__________________ "I think I'll stroll up to the front to see how the shooting's going..." - Capt. Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce Read my blogs! http://centralparkamisguide.com/ http://dvdcriticscorner.com Visit me on Facebook!http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=641138880 Hey, I do the tweet thing too! http://twitter.com/TomLevier My shop of handmade items! http://www.etsy.com/shop/ColdGarageCreations

02-28-2009, 01:06 AM	#3
Waterston_Fan Eternal Member Eternal Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 26, 2005 Location: Southern California Posts: 3,195	The guy didn't know he was working for Wal-Mart?

02-28-2009, 01:57 AM	#4
browneyes106 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 01, 2008 Posts: 6,094	Maybe he thought he was working at Target.

02-28-2009, 12:42 PM	#8
TripperFan In God's Arms Now Forum Star Join Date: Sep 14, 2003 Location: Heartbreak Ridge Posts: 12,086	If he worked at Target I could see it. Wal-Mart, not so much.
	__________________ If I don't see you in this world, I'll meet you in the next one.....don't be late James Marshall Hendrix Voodoo Chile The Forum Legend formerly known as TripperFan "religion is for people who are afraid of hell--spirituality is for people who have been through hell"---anonymous

02-28-2009, 01:29 PM	#10
MonarC The truth will set you free Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 05, 2002 Location: 3rd Stone From The Sun Posts: 9,525	WOW! Whatever happened to just quiting your job? What a painful suicide. So sad.

02-28-2009, 07:56 PM	#11
Chocoholic Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 01, 2000 Location: Between a rock and a hard place. Posts: 11,235	That is so sad.