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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A veteran T-Mobile Center employee is speaking out after a brutal assault during a concert in Kansas City – an attack that was captured on video and has since gone viral.
Thomas Schlange, 66, said he never imagined a night on the job would leave him physically and emotionally shaken.
A teenager was arrested after the incident, which happened during Sunday night's NBA YoungBoy concert, but that teen has since been released to their parents as police continue to investigate.
"I think people should be able to go to T-Mobile or any other venue in the city, purchase a ticket and enjoy their show," Schlange told NewsNation's Kansas City affiliate WDAF. "And they should not be interrupted by people who misbehave."
On Sunday, what is normally a fun and entertaining job turned dangerous when a teenager lashed out after being asked to move seats.
"I mean it is serious; I went down and had blows to my head," Schlange said, recalling the moment he was thrown to the ground and repeatedly punched.
"Just getting him off, getting him off of me…because he was so enraged, so we were just, in essence, trying to protect the fans," Schlange said.
The disturbing moments were captured on video by witness and local pastor Robert McDaniel, who said the outburst started when the teen was told his ticket didn't match his seat assignment.
"He was asked to move to another place – because his ticket wasn't where he was sitting – and immediately he just completely lost it," McDaniel said.
McDaniel told FOX4 that he shared the video to raise awareness, not just about violence but also about the larger discussion regarding the younger generation's inability to control their emotions, in his opinion.
"But there is something going on in his heart that needs to be fixed—and what that is, is his emotions," McDaniel said. "He needs to learn how to operate and work through and process those emotions."
Schlange echoed that message during his interview with WDAF.
"The message is: we, as young adults or people growing into adulthood, we need to learn how to control our anger," he said.
WDAF asked if he ever thought he'd find himself in such a desperate situation after nearly two decades on the job.
"No," Schlange said in response.
In a statement to WDAF, the office of Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas's office said:
"Any information on criminal offenses at the venue Sunday evening will be best obtained from KCPD. The mayor condemns violence in all forms, including in our entertainment spaces. Concerts, sporting events and community gatherings should be safe places of joy and connection, not fear or harm. The venue will work with KCPD, our prosecutors and our employees to ensure the assailants are identified and charged for the criminal conduct that occurred Sunday evening."
Schlange is expected to meet with Kansas City police Friday.
The United Center in Chicago announced on its website that it has canceled the NBA YoungBoy concert that was scheduled for Wednesday in the Windy City.
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