The release of Nike's new Air Jordan Concord sneakers triggered mayhem at retailers across the country, with police being called to many locations. In cities from North Carolina to Washington state, crowds pushed, fought or rushed the doors to buy the black-and-white Air Jordan 11 Retro Concords, which went on sale on Friday.

Thousands lined up at stores across the country to shell out $180 for the black and white Jordans — named for Michael Jordan, who carried the Chicago Bulls to six NBA championships in the 1990s — that went on sale at midnight Thursday. The retro version of the Air Jordan 11 was a highly sought-after shoe because of the design and the fact that the original was released in 1996 when Jordan and the Bulls were at the height of their dominance.

Within hours of the release of the new design, hundreds of pairs of the shoes were on sale on eBay, some for more than $500. Many of the pairs already had dozens of bidders.

The mayhem was reminiscent of the violence that broke out 20 years ago in many cities as the shoes, endorsed by former Chicago Bulls star Michael Jordan, became popular targets for thieves. It also had a decidedly Black Friday feel as huge crowds of shoppers overwhelmed stores for a must-have item.

Among the incidents:

  • In a Seattle suburb police had to use pepper spray to break up fights in a crowd of up to 2,000 people at the Westfield South Center mall after they were told they were sold out of the sneakers. Two entry doors were broken and 25 police officers were needed to subdue the crowd enough.
  • East of San Francisco, in Richmond, Calif., the Air Jordan sale was canceled after a gun went off outside the mall early Friday morning and the 24-year-old gunman was arrested. Richmond police say it may have been an accidental discharge of the gun. Between 1,500 and 2,000 people who were waiting in line to buy the new Jordan shoes left disappointed.
  • A man was stabbed when a brawl broke out between several people waiting in line at a Jersey City, New Jersey mall to buy the new shoes, authorities said. The 20-year-old man was expected to recover from his injuries.
  • In Atlanta, at least four people were arrested in a mob scene at a suburban mall, according to The Associated Press. Twenty police cars responded and the crowd broke down a door to enter the mall before it opened. Police also  had to smash the windows of a car to get two toddlers out after a woman had left them there while she went to buy the shoes. She was taken into custody when she returned, according to the AP.
  • In Taylor, Michigan, about 100 people forced their way into a shopping center around 5:30 a.m., damaging decorations and overturning benches. Police say a 21-year-old man was arrested.
  • In Richmond, California, police say crowds waiting to buy the Air Jordan 11 Retro Concords at the Hilltop Mall were turned away after a gunshot rang out around 7 a.m. The gun was reportedly accidently discharged.

Other disturbances reported at stores in places like Kentucky, Ohio, North Carolina, Florida and Nebraska ranged from shoving and threats to property damage. Riots were also reported in the Philippines.

Nike issued a statement in response to the violence that said: “Consumer safety and security is of paramount importance. We encourage anyone wishing to purchase our product to do so in a respectful and safe manner.”

Sneaker designer Ronnie Fieg told ABC News that the violence was not a surprise.

“That's usually what happens when demand exceeds the supply,” he said. “The kids wait for them and wait for them and when you line up, and the kids get impatient, the younger kids, some of them don't really respect the line-ups and it gets rowdy.”

Fieg said Air Jordans have always caused this kind of hysteria.

“Back then it was a revolutionary sneaker, because people would wear them to church, or to prom, because it kind of had that tuxedo look, so it really changed the game back in the day and Jordan won the championship in them, I think he was wearing the black and red version when he did,” Fieg said.