A man was caught on camera yelling at two children and snapping their expensive fishing rod while they were fishing at what he claimed to be his private lake. The incident reportedly took place in Knoxville, Tennessee.The video, initially shared by TikToker @fishn_shi, shows the man, allegedly intoxicated, aggressively approaching the kids before breaking their fishing rod without warning. He then threatens to toss their phones into the lake and demands they leave immediately."You are fishing in a private lake. Get the hell out of here. We are going to prosecute you, and you are going to pay all kinds of money because you are being a d---," he yells at one child, then walks towards the other, shouting at him to leave.
The footage has since gone viral on social media, sparking outrage and condemnation."I understand if they’re trespassing and you’re a homeowner. I completely get it. But they’re just fishing for gods sake. They’re not causing damage or being loud. I just don’t understand why folks can’t be human beings anymore," one person wrote on X. Another commented, "There is absolutely no reason a grown man should be treating kids this way." A third person wrote, "Right like okay it’s a private lake sure just go down there and say hey you kids can’t fish here can you go somewhere else." Another user wrote, "Even if you want them to stop fishing, a simple “hey guys, sorry but this is a private lake, we’re not allowed to fish here” would’ve sufficed."Some social media users identified the man in the video as Matt Webster, Chairperson of the Haiti Outreach Program TN, although this has not been officially confirmed."Why dont kids play outside anymore?"
— Boston Smalls (@smalls2672) July 5, 2024
Because of HOA Larry, that's why. pic.twitter.com/mhQK2JuQ22
