Pepper-spraying shopper suspect surrenders

LOS ANGELES -- A woman suspected of showering Black Friday shoppers with pepper spray surrendered to authorities but was released pending further investigation after she refused to discuss the incident, police said Saturday.

The woman, whose name was not released, is suspected of firing pepper spray into a crowd in order to clear a path to a crate of Xbox video-game players that were being unwrapped late Thanksgiving night at a Walmart store in the upscale Porter Ranch section of the San Fernando Valley.

The suspect got away in the confusion, and it was not known if she bought one of the Xboxes. Ten people suffered minor injuries from the spray and 10 others sustained cuts and bruises in the ensuing chaos.

"Last night at 8:30 the suspect involved in the pepper spray incident at the Porter Ranch Walmart turned herself in," police Sgt. Jose Valle said yesterday. She immediately invoked her right against self-incrimination, however, and refused to discuss the incident further.

Police released her pending further investigation.

Valle said investigators still have nearly a dozen witnesses to interview, including several spraying victims. He added it would probably be at least two days before an arrest in the case could be made.

If the woman who surrendered is indeed the person who sprayed the crowd, she could face battery charges.

The attack took place about 10:30 p.m. Thursday, shortly after the Walmart opened its doors for the traditional Black Friday sales that kick off the Christmas shopping season.