Things have taken a turn for the worst for student athlete, Alaila Everett.
The I.C. Norcom High School senior is in serious trouble after a video has gone viral of her hitting another runner on the head with a metal baton during a relay. In the video, as the two runners are coming around the bend, during the 4×200 meter race, the victim, Brookville High School junior Kaelen Tucker, can be seen holding her head as she falls off the track onto the ground.
According to reports, lip-reading expert Nicola Hickling says that Everett yelled, “Get off” and “Hey, oh” as she was hitting Tucker. As a result of the incident, Tucker suffered a concussion and possibly fractured skull. The question being asked is if the incident was an honest mistake or an alleged assault.
Everett has released a statement claiming that the incident was an accident, and said that the baton hit Tucker because she was too close to her lane. “After a couple times of hitting her, my baton got stuck behind her back like this, and it rolled up her back. I lost my balance when I pumped my arms again. She got hit,” Everett said during an emotional interview. “I know my intentions and I would never hit someone on purpose.”
After the incident, the I.C. Norcom High School team was disqualified and Everett’s family was given a protective order from Alaila Everett and her family. Everett was also charged with one count of assault and battery.