An employee at the Menards in Golden Valley was killed Thursday morning in an accident in the lumber area outside the store, police and the company said.
Menards spokesman Jeff Abbott said in an e-mail that the incident happened about 10 a.m. The company released two short video clips from the lumberyard showing a large pallet of wood sliding onto the forklift as it moved close to the pile.
Relatives identified the victim as James Stanback, 19.
"We are a small family here at Golden Valley and we are all in shock," the store's management said in a prepared statement. "Our thoughts and prayers are with our Teammate's family."
The store, at 6800 Wayzata Blvd., remained open for several hours after the incident, but closed after a protest was held outside the entrance demanding that it close.
Maya Miller
