High School Sprinter Charged with Assault After Striking Competitor within the Head with Metal Baton During Track Race

A highschool sprinter was charged with assault after placing a competitor within the head with a metallic baton throughout a monitor race.

According to ABC News, 13 News Now, and WTKR, the incident occurred throughout the second leg of the 4×200 relay on the Virginia High School League Championship held at Liberty University in Lynchburg earlier this month.

There, I.C. Norcom High School senior Alaila Everett struck Brookville High School junior Kaelen Tucker with a baton within the head whereas operating beside her.

Video footage reveals Everett swinging her baton, showing to strike Tucker within the head earlier than Tucker drops her baton and runs to the facet. The I.C. Norcom High School crew was disqualified from the occasion. 

Bethany Harrison, the commonwealth’s lawyer for town of Lynchburg, confirmed to the shops {that a} misdemeanor cost of assault and battery cost was issued towards Everett.

In an interview with WSET, Tucker mentioned she was “so in disbelief” after the incident, stating, “I didn’t even know. I didn’t know what had occurred.”

“I obtained hit within the head and I simply fell off the monitor,” mentioned Tucker. The highschool junior did the interview alongside her mom, who mentioned Tucker has a “slight concussion” and “potential cranium fracture.”

“I nonetheless cannot consider it. I’m nonetheless in shock, like everybody’s texting me checking up on me, and I admire that, however like I’m nonetheless making an attempt to take all of it in, and I can not consider it occurred,” mentioned Tucker.

“I might by no means try this on objective,” Everett mentioned throughout an interview that aired on Good Morning America Tuesday, March 11. “That’s not in my character.”

While recalling the incident to WTKR, Everett mentioned, “She [Tucker] was touching me to the purpose the place I used to be pumping my arm, and the baton was hitting her arm. I lose my stability—my complete physique turns, after which I pump my arms, so she obtained hit.”

According to 13 News Now, I.C. Norcom’s athletic director and Everett’s father known as Tucker’s mother and father to apologize, however the two youngsters haven’t been in touch.

Portsmouth Public Schools informed PEOPLE in a earlier assertion that it instantly reported the incident to the Virginia High School League (VHSL), which is constant an investigation into the matter.

“We are cooperating with the VHSL in its work,” mentioned Dr. Lauren Nolasco, the chief communications officer for Portsmouth Public Schools. “The division will assist and observe the ruling that comes from the VHSL upon its accomplished investigation.” Brookville High School didn’t instantly reply to PEOPLE’s earlier request for remark.

The Virginia High School League mentioned in a press release beforehand obtained by PEOPLE that it stood by its determination to disqualify Everett. 

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The Portsmouth NAACP mentioned in a assertion that it was reviewing what occurred. PEOPLE reached out to the Lynchburg commonwealth’s lawyer for remark.