The high school sprinter accused of smashing her opponent on the back of the head during a relay has been charged as a new angle of the incident sheds more light on her claims.
Alaila Everett revealed she has been harassed online and her family has been served with legal papers after vision of her smashing her baton on a rival’s head emerged.
Kaelen Tucker and Everett were on the final bend when Tucker was struck during the 4x200m relay final at the Virginia High School League (VHSL) Class 3 State Indoor Championships.
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Now it can be revealed the Lynchburg Commonwealth’s Attorney Office has reportedly issued a petition for one count of assault and battery against Everett, according to the Daily Mail.
In addition, a new angle of the alleged assault seems to defy the claims by Everett that it was an accident.
An alternative angle of the incident. Wavy.com/ABC
The alternative footage, taken from behind the runners as they approach the final bend, shows Everett clocking her arm back before striking, seemingly debunking her claim it was not a deliberate act.
A lip reading expert told the Daily Mail, Everett shouted ‘get off’ and ‘hey oh’ during the incident, although the footage made it difficult to be completely certain.
Tucker was forced off track and fell to the ground clutching her head and was treated for a concussion and a potential skull fracture.
Everett continued on her way before being disqualified.
In the aftermath of the incident, an emotional Everett said she has been judged incorrectly and that she would never hit anybody on purpose.
Tucker was on the outside of the bend and Everett on the inside. ABC13
“After a couple times of hitting her with my baton, I got stuck behind her back and (the baton) rolled up her back,” Everett said to WAVYTV10.
“I lost my balance, and when I pumped my arms again, she got hit. I know my intentions and I would never hit somebody on purpose.”
The student added: “Everybody has feelings, so you’re physically hurt but you are not thinking about my mental, right? They are going off of one angle.
Alaila Everett is accused of the attack. WAVY TV10/YouTube
“They’re assaulting my character, calling me ghetto, racist slurs, death threats, all of this, just because of a nine second video.”
“I know 100 per cent that she won’t do this to nobody,” Layla Everett said.
“Now we have to go to a city, three hours away, that everybody hates our guts,” her father said.
The interview was criticised online with several social media users refusing to believe Everett and taking aim at the lack of accountability from the parents.
Former news anchor Anita Padilla wrote on X: “Stop with the crocodile tears. You did not lose your balance. You lost your integrity and tried to pull a ‘Tonya Harding’ in front of everyone and now you want us all to believe it was a ‘misunderstanding’. Please.”
Everett’s parents were also emotional after being served legal papers. WAVY TV10/YouTube
Tucker has also spoken to media in recent days and disputed Everett’s claim of how the incident played out.
“When you go to the other side of the track, you have to cross into lane one, you have to merge in,” Tucker told WSLS.
“As I was coming up on her, she kind of like made me get cut off a little bit, so I backed away.
“Then, as we got around the curve, she kept bumping me in my arm. Then finally we got off the curve, I like slowly started passing her and then that’s when she just hit me with the baton and I fell off the track.”
Tucker bows out of the race. ABC13
