A cash-eating game machine at a Tennessee mini-golf center caused a near riot over the weekend as a large group of upset teens began abusing staff and smashing up the premises because of the malfunction.
The Putt-Putt Fun Center, at Golf and Games Family Park in Memphis, was the scene of the madness as the group of up to 400 teens didn’t hold back in venting their anger.
The chaotic events were caught on camera by a dismayed bystander whose film of the melee shows the violent teens going crazy and throwing various heavy objects at staff because they didn’t issue the kids a refund.
The video — which went viral on Twitter — focuses primarily on one young girl, who helped kick off the stampede when she shoved a Plexiglas screen from the counter, causing it to cave in on several members of staff as they cowered behind ATM machines in fear.
She then proceeds to throw two more Plexiglas partitions and rips out a computer screen before moving to heavier, more dangerous objects, like metal retractable belt barriers.
The teen is seen hurling the metal pole across the counter while a blood-curdling scream echoes throughout the space. Others joined in the tormenting by flinging napkin holders at staff.
The girl then picks up another belt barrier to toss before exiting the camera frame.
Then, as if the first wave of assaults is not enough, another person set off fireworks inside, causing widespread panic, a Memphis Police spokesperson told Fox13 Memphis.
The golf center released a statement the next day blaming neglectful parents for the destruction after leaving the kids unattended en masse.
“Unfortunately, yesterday evening we had an incident that we have never experienced in 57 years of business. Parents chose to leave large groups of teenagers at our facility without parental supervision,” said Aaron Boss, the center’s general manager. “Some of those people chose to create a disturbance the likes of which we have never seen. We are very thankful that none of our Golf and Games family or customers were injured in this situation.”
Boss added that the center is actively working with police to pursue criminal charges against those responsible for the destruction.