A teenager has been charged with felony and misdemeanor assault following an attack on a T-Mobile Center employee during an NBA YoungBoy concert in Kansas City last month. The incident, captured in a widely circulated video, sparked outrage and prompted an inquiry by local authorities.
The suspect, a minor whose name has not been released, faces one count of felony assault and one misdemeanor assault charge filed in the juvenile Office of the 16th Judicial Circuit in Jackson County. Court proceedings will be private due to the suspect’s age. The attack underscores growing concerns about safety at large-scale events and the potential for escalating violence, even as venues prioritize security measures.
The assault occurred on September 21st during NBA YoungBoy’s performance. Video footage shows 66-year-old employee Thomas Schlage being pushed to the ground and repeatedly punched. The suspect was also accused of assaulting a security guard during his removal from the arena.
Witness Robert McDaniel, a local pastor who filmed the incident, stated the altercation began after Schlage asked the suspect to move from a seat not assigned to his ticket.”He was asked to move to another place, because his ticket wasn’t where he was sitting,” McDaniel said. “And promptly he just completely lost it.”
Schlage described the attack as “serious,” noting he sustained blows to the head.”I mean it is serious; I went down and had blows to my head. Just getting him off, getting him off of me … as he was so enraged, so we were just, in essence, trying to protect the fans.”
Upon learning of the charges,Schlage emphasized the importance of accountability but also expressed sadness over the situation. “Accountability is important,” he said, adding, “it was kind of sad things got to this point.Restraint, cooperation, and respect are important lessons to learn.”
