A 66-year-old worker was brutally assaulted by a teenager during a concert by rapper NBA YoungBoy, sparking outrage and concern over event safety. The incident occurred at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, where Thomas Schlange was on duty. Schlange had asked the teenager to relocate as he was not seated in his assigned place, which led to the violent altercation.
The assault was captured on video by concert attendees, showing the teenager throwing Schlange into a row of seats and launching a series of punches at him. Schlange, who was left disoriented by the attack, attempted to defend himself but was overpowered by the teenager. The assault continued until a bystander intervened and halted the attack.
Schlange, who has been working at the venue for nearly two decades, was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. He suffers from glaucoma and his family fears that the assault may have caused further damage to his eyes. A GoFundMe page has been set up to assist with his medical expenses.
The teenager, who is under 16, was arrested following the incident but was later released to his parents. The Kansas City Police Department is continuing its investigation into the assault. The potential charges the juvenile may face are yet to be determined.
Schlange’s family expressed their disappointment at the lack of intervention from other concertgoers. Schlange himself emphasized the need for young people to learn to control their anger. He is scheduled to meet with the police later this week as part of the ongoing investigation.
Shani Tate Ross, a spokesperson for the T-Mobile Center, condemned the attack, calling it “horrific” and unacceptable. She stressed that the incident does not represent the venue or the city, and that violence of any kind will not be tolerated at the T-Mobile Center.
The video of the assault has gone viral on social media, raising public concern about youth violence and the safety of public events. The mayor’s office in Kansas City has also condemned the violence and urged the public to share any information about the incident with the police.
In the wake of the incident, the United Center in Chicago announced the cancellation of an upcoming NBA YoungBoy concert, although no specific reason was given for the decision. The rapper, based in Baton Rouge, is currently on his first tour in five years.