Target, grappling with escalating theft and “organized retail cri me,” is set to close nine outIets across four states. Despite “adding more security team members, using third-party guard services, and implementing theft-deterrent tools,” the challenges with crime persisted. Below are the affected markets along with the remaining stores and employment data:
New York City
-Harlem: 517 E 117th St. (96 remaining stores, over 20,000 team members)
Seattle:
-University Way: 4535 University Way NE
-Ballard: 1448 NW Market St., Ste. 100 (22 remaining stores, nearly 4,000 team members)
San Francisco/Oakland:
-SF Folsom: 1690 Folsom St.
-Oakland Broadway: 2650 Broadway
-Pittsburg: 4301 Century Blvd. (32 remaining stores, over 6,400 team members)
Portland:
-Galleria: 939 SW Morrison St.
-Powell: 3031 SE Powell Blvd.
-Hollywood: 4030 NE Halsey St. (15 remaining stores, more than 2,500 team members)
Over 150 stores remain operational in these regions. Target is boosting security through locking cases for certain merchandise and allying with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations division. “While we will continue to make meaningful investments throughout our business, we cannot solve this issue on our own,” the firm noted.
An 11-year-old tragically lost his life due to an online trend involving a common household item. Now, his grieving family is warning others about the dangers of this deadly challenge.
An 11-year-old boy, Tommie-Lee Billington from Lancaster, England, tragically passed away after participating in a dangerous TikTok challenge that involved inhaling harmful substances. The incident occurred during a sleepover at a friend’s house, where Tommie and his friend decided to try a viral trend they had seen on the app.
The challenge, known as “huffing,” involves inhaling toxic gases or solvents such as spray deodorant, glue, or dry shampoo to experience a temporary high. Unfortunately, as soon as Tommie inhaled the substance, his heart stopped, and despite immediate medical attention, he could not be revived. Doctors confirmed that he died instantly.
His grieving family is now speaking out, warning others about the hidden dangers of such social media trends. Tommie’s mother, Sherry, has taken to social media to raise awareness, urging parents to speak with their children about the deadly risks associated with these viral challenges.
In an emotional message on Facebook, Sherry expressed her deep pain and loss, writing, “This cost my son his life from trying something other kids are doing. Please talk to your children about the consequences of this. I have never felt pain like this. My whirlwind. My baby boy. You will forever be in my heart.”
Sherry’s heartfelt plea serves as a powerful reminder for parents to be vigilant about what their children are exposed to online. The family hopes that by sharing their story, they can prevent other families from enduring the same devastating loss and save lives by raising awareness of the dangers that lurk within seemingly harmless online challenges.
Sherry concluded her message by vowing to keep Tommie’s memory alive, saying, “I will make sure to the best of my ability that your name and your beautiful face will become the reason that other children’s lives will be saved, and other families don’t have to suffer this deep, deep hurt.”
Tommie-Lee’s death is not an isolated incident; it follows similar tragedies where other young people have lost their lives participating in dangerous online trends. His family’s warning is a sobering reminder of the potential harm that social media challenges can cause, and the need for open conversations between parents and children about the real risks of imitating what they see online.
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