Alaila Everett has been charged with misdemeanor assault and battery, despite claiming footage exonerates her
The high school student who is alleged to have ‘attacked’ her opponent with a baton during a race, has been charged.
Track Tragedy or Honest Mistake? New Footage Emerges in Viral Baton Incident
What was supposed to be a routine high school relay turned into a shocking moment caught on camera. On Tuesday, March 4, Brookville High School runner Kaelen Tucker suffered a concussion and a potential skull fracture after being struck in the back of the head by a baton during the second leg of a 4×200-meter relay at Liberty University, Lynchburg.
The dramatic incident, which quickly went viral, clearly shows Tucker being hit by a competitor. However, Alaila Everett of I.C. Norcom High School, the runner at the center of the controversy, insists it was an accident.
Now, newly released footage has added another layer to the debate. Speaking to WAVY-TV 10, Everett defended herself, explaining what happened from her perspective:
“After a couple times of hitting [Tucker] with my baton, I got stuck behind her back like this and it rolled up her back. I lost my balance, and when I pumped my arms again, she got hit.”
Firmly maintaining her innocence, Everett added, “I know my intentions, and I would never hit somebody on purpose.”
As the debate rages on, this fresh footage could be the key to determining whether the hit was an unfortunate accident—or something more.
Baton Incident Escalates: Runner Charged, NAACP Investigates Racial Threats
The controversy surrounding the shocking baton strike at a high school relay race has taken a legal turn. The Commonwealth’s Attorney for Lynchburg, Bethany Harrison, has confirmed that I.C. Norcom High School runner Alaila Everett has been charged with misdemeanor assault and battery following the incident that left Brookville High School’s Kaelen Tucker with a concussion and a possible skull fracture.
The Virginia High School League is actively reviewing the case, alongside the Portsmouth chapter of the NAACP, which has raised concerns beyond the track. According to reports, Everett and her family have been subjected to racial slurs and even death threats, prompting further investigation.
Meanwhile, Tucker shared her perspective in an interview with WSET ABC 13 on Friday, March 7, detailing the moments leading up to the strike:
“On the back curve, I kind of got cut off, and I tried to pass her the first time, so I let her go ahead. I knew when I got fully on the curve that I was just going to have to push through past her. So, as we were coming up in the middle of the curve, we were bumping arms a lot. So, I got a little more on the outside of the curve to go around her.”
With legal action now in motion and heightened tensions surrounding the case, this high school track meet has turned into a national debate over sportsmanship, intent, and justice.
Legal Battle Intensifies After Shocking High School Track Incident
The controversy surrounding the baton strike at a high school relay race continues to escalate as new legal action emerges. Brookville High School runner Kaelen Tucker has now filed for a protective order against I.C. Norcom High School’s Alaila Everett, adding another layer of tension to the already heated situation.
Tucker, who suffered a concussion and a potential skull fracture, recalled the moment she was struck:
“When I finally pushed through to get in front of her, that’s when she hit me in the head with the baton.”
Everett’s parents stand firmly behind their daughter, insisting the incident was unintentional and that she would never deliberately harm an opponent. Meanwhile, Tucker’s family claims that Everett has not attempted to apologize, further fueling the dispute. Everett, however, argues the opposite—saying she did try to reach out, but Tucker has been unreceptive and has even blocked her on social media.
With legal action now in motion, accusations flying, and heightened emotions on both sides, what started as an unfortunate track incident has now become a high-profile case of sportsmanship, intent, and accountability.
