March 13, 2025
The highschool runner who went viral after putting an opponent within the head with a baton has been charged with assault.
The Virginia highschool observe and subject runner who hit an opponent within the head with a baton has been charged with misdemeanor assault.
I.C. Norcom Excessive College senior Alaila Everett is being charged with one depend of assault and battery. The costs come one week after an incident throughout the 4×200-meter relay on the March 4 state championship, the place her baton struck Brookville Excessive College junior Kaelen Tucker within the head.
Everett insists the incident was unintended, however many who’ve seen the now-viral video consider in any other case. The widespread consideration from the footage has resulted in harassment and dying threats in opposition to her.
“She was touching me to the purpose the place I used to be pumping my arm, and the baton was hitting her arm,” Everett stated. “I lose my stability—my complete physique turns, after which I pump my arms, so she received hit.”
“I might by no means do this on objective,” Everett informed Good Morning America. “That’s not in my character.”
Tucker was recognized with a concussion, and her mother and father declare Everett by no means checked on their daughter or inquired about her well-being, even after the race had ended. Nonetheless, Everett says that when she tried to achieve out to Tucker on social media to apologize, she discovered she was blocked.
The highschool teen has spoken out in opposition to the backlash she is receiving on-line from individuals who assume she purposefully attacked Tucker.
“I can admit from the video it does look purposeful, however I do know my intentions and I might by no means hit any person on objective due to jealousy,” Everett stated.
The Portsmouth NAACP additionally launched a press release defending Everett from the net scrutiny and media consideration.
“Alaila is NOT AN ATTACKER and media headlines that allude in the direction of that in any means is shameful,” the assertion stated. “We perceive the sensitivity of the circumstances for each athletes and their households concerned, however this narrative should not go unaddressed.”
The assertion continued.
“Alaila is an honor scholar and a star athlete on the historic I.C. Norcom Excessive College. From all accounts, she is an distinctive younger chief and scholar whose athletic expertise has been well-documented and acknowledged throughout our state. She has carried herself with integrity each on and off the sphere, and any narrative that adjudicates her responsible of any legal exercise is a violation of her due course of rights.”
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