Security Guards Attacked, Injured At Concert In Howell: Police

HOWELL, NJ — Several people, including security guards, were seriously injured Saturday evening when they were assaulted by a group of people while they were removing an unruly patron from a concert Saturday in Howell, police said Sunday.

The injuries included at least one guard being knocked unconsious, eye injuries, and at least one had teeth knocked out, police said.

Howell police were called to GameChanger World on Route 9 south in Howell to assist security guards, including a off-duty Freehold Township police officer who was working security detail at the event, called Loud Fest, police said in a news release.

While police were en route, Howell Police Communications requested additional Howell patrol units to respond as there were reports of a fight in progress, and arrived to find security guards and attendees were injured as a result of an assault, police said.

The security guards told howell police the incident began when a man, described as white, bald, wearing a black shirt and apparently intoxicated, was "moshing" in front of the stage and causing a disturbance. Because of the disturbance, they asked him to leave the concert, but the man was uncooperative, the security guards said, so they escorted him out the doors to the side of the building, police said.

At that point the assault began, the guards told police, saying one of the guards was punched in the face; multiple unknown subjects joined in and began fighting the guards, kicking them and punching them repeatedly, police said. One guard was able to break free and called 911, police said. Those who attacked the guards fled, police said.

The guards suffered injuries including lost teeth, lip injuries, and an eye injury; loss of consciousness, and a contusion above the ear, rib pain, dizziness, headache and nausea; abrasions, a contusion on the back of the head, a facial contusion, blurry vision, and a right eye injury, police said.

The security guards were taken to the hospital by Howell Police EMS and Howell First Aid and Rescue Squad, police said.

Howell police are investigating and sai there will be a number of interview and video surveillance will be reviewed to determine who was involved, police said.

Anyone with additional information can contact Howell police through Facebook Messenger on the department's Facebook page. Anonymous tops can be sent via their anonymous tip service at www.p3tips.com, or contact Detective Sgt. Christian Antunez at 732-938-4575, ext 2243 or email cantunez@howellpolice.org or Patrolwoman Heather Scherbinski at 732-938-4575, ext. 2660 or email hscherbinski@howellpolice.org.

Photos by Howell Happenings NJ, used with permission