The high school runner at the center of a controversy that has made national headlines has been charged with assault and battery after an incident at a Virginia high school track meet.
Brookville High School junior Kaelen Tucker was hit by the baton of fellow competitor Alaila Everett, a senior at I.C. Norcom High School, during the 4×200-meter relay event at a state-level track meet last week in a scene caught on video.
The Lynchburg Commonwealth’s Attorney Office has now charged Everett with one count of assault and battery, according to multiple reports.
In the moments after the incident, I.C. Norcom was disqualified from the race, WAVY reported.
The Tuckers have also served the Everett family with an order of protection.
Everett and Tucker were racing close to one another during the relay when they rounded a curve and Tucker was struck in the head with the baton.
Everett described this as an “accident” in a subsequent interview with the local ABC affiliate.
Tucker immediately grabbed her head and came off the track, and Everett appeared to show concern for her opponent, even slowing down, as Tucker grabbed her head.
Tucker told WSLS that she went to the doctor afterward and was told that she had a concussion and could possibly have a skull fracture.
Everett added that she has received death threats and been on the receiving end of racial slurs after the clip went viral.
“They are assuming my character, calling me ‘ghetto’ and racial slurs, death threats… all of this off of a nine-second video,” she said, while also criticizing the reaction based on one angle of the incident.
“I have plenty of people in my corner — teachers offering me a place to stay in their classroom if things get overwhelming, letting me stay in the gym, or even go to the principal’s office if it’s overwhelming,” Everett told ABC News. “My community knows my character… they know I’m not like that… that it was an accident.”
Tucker’s family previously told WSLS that they sought an apology from Everett.