National Basketball Association

Report: Air Jordan buyers pepper-sprayed

Published Dec. 23, 2010 12:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Police twice used pepper spray Thursday to control an unruly crowd of shoppers hoping to be the first to buy Nike's new Air Jordan 11 Retro sneakers at a Dallas mall, The Dallas Morning News reported.

Up to 500 customers pushed and shoved as they lined up at Town East Mall in Mesquite for the shoes, which went on sale at 6 a.m.

Police said they used pepper spray to hold back the crowd as they let in a child who was trapped against the door of the mall before it opened.

Police were again forced to spray the crowd minutes later as they pushed to break the same door, Hedgpeth said.

Sisters Laurie and Lorraine Martinez, who said they were in line since 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, described the scene as frightening and chaotic, myFOXdfw.com reported.

"Nothing like I've ever experienced before," Lorraine Martinez said. "I got pushed in a corner and we all got maced. And if it wasn't for my sister covering my face, I think my face would have ended up worse ... our noses are burning."

The women said despite the trouble, the sneakers sold out in a half-hour.

A pair of Air Jordan 11 Retro sneakers, named after Michael Jordan, retails for $175.