A Vons supermarket in Granada Hills, California, is under scrutiny for allegedly remaining open for approximately four hours after a customer died inside the store on July 5. Employees reported that management instructed them to barricade the deceased individual with shopping carts while customers continued to shop.
Paszion Horner-Smith, a supervisor working that day, described the incident as a "despicable act" and expressed a lack of empathy from the company. Horner-Smith and another employee attempted to administer CPR to the customer, who had suffered a medical emergency, but determined it was too late. According to Horner-Smith, corporate management, observing the situation via surveillance cameras, directed employees to cover the body and continue serving customers.
During the four-hour period, shoppers reportedly filled their carts with groceries, unaware or unaffected by the presence of the deceased. The victim's family was present in the store for the duration, waiting for the mortuary to arrive. Horner-Smith stated the family was unable to be with or see their loved one during this time.
Kathy Finn, President of UFCW Local 770, has reached out to Vons' parent company, Albertsons, regarding store protocols for such emergencies. As of the report, no response had been received from Albertsons. The California Post has also contacted the company for information on its policies and whether they were followed during the incident.
