^ According to what I saw on TV he didn't actually "hit" the 'child.' When the kid was pulling on the back he was cutting off the dude's air (aka he couldn't breathe) so he shoved him. It looked like a complete accident that he happened to get the kid in the face.
I absolutely don't blame him. If some little jackass is cutting off my air and I'm choking you better believe I'll shove him away so I can like, breathe(??) lol