newjerseynewsroom.com

BY BOB HOLT

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

The Christmas song goes, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year.” Just as long as you don’t get between an Air Jordan shopper and their intended target.

Last Thursday night in Jersey City, a man was stabbed seven times as he waited in line to buy the newly released Nike Air Jordan XI Concord sneakers for $180 at the Newport Centre Mall, according to police. The victim, age 20, said he began arguing with another man in line, NJ.com reported. Four to six other men joined the attack after the two men began fighting. The assailants were described as being in their late teens.

Meanwhile, at the Woodbridge Center Mall on Friday morning, NJ.com reported that one adult and four juveniles reportedly stole the sneakers from three shoppers who had just purchased them. The five Perth Amboy residents were all charged with robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery. And according to myfoxny.com, several people were injured in a stampede for the sneakers that broke out Friday at the Burlington Center Mall.

Elsewhere, four people were reportedly injured in an Atlanta mall, in a scene requiring 20 police cars. Reports say pepper spray was being used in Seattle incidents, and a sale in Richmond, California was canceled after a gun went off outside a mall Friday morning.

In a statement to ABC News, Nike said, "We are extremely concerned to hear of the reported crowd incidents around the launch of the Air Jordan 11's."

The Washington Post reports that Nike first released the Air Jordan XI for the 1995-96 season, costing $125. The 2011 version runs $180.