PlayStation 3 hopefuls overwhelm mall
Restless crowd dispersed by police at Copley Place
 A Boston police sergeant informed a youth ducking behind a newspaper at a Copley Place coffee shop that it was time to leave the lobby. (George Rizer/ Globe Staff) |
Nearly a dozen Boston police cruisers rushed to Copley Place mall yesterday morning when a crowd of 400 people clamoring for the new
No one was hurt, and the crowd dispersed when ordered by police.
Some video game enthusiasts asserted they had been waiting in line for three days for a chance to purchase the game system for $500 to $600. The crowd had waited outside through a stormy night with high winds and heavy rain.
Some patrons contended they were told they would be allowed inside the mall at 6 a.m. for the 8 a.m. opening of a Sony store.
However, the crowd became restless at about 5:30 a.m., and dozens of police officers rushed to the scene.
A few disappointed customers asserted that store officials had compiled a waiting list of more than 150 people who were supposed to have first dibs. A few people in the crowd chanted: "Honor the list! Honor the list!"
The episode was one of several across the country. A 21-year-old Massachusetts man was shot early yesterday while waiting in line to buy the video game system outside a Wal-Mart in Putnam, Conn. The victim, identified by police as Michael Penkala of Webster, was taken to UMass Medical Center in Worcester with a gunshot wound. He was in stable condition with injuries that were not life-threatening, according to Connecticut State Police.
Investigators are searching for two armed teenagers who witnesses said were trying to rob the gamers waiting in line.
ANDREW RYAN and GEORGE RIZER 
