Footage shows new angle of viral moment athlete hit opponent over the head with baton as she faces assault charge
Another angle of the controversial incident between high school athletes Alaila Everett and Kaelen Tucker has been released.
In case you've been living under a rock, the viral clip in question was taken from a 4x200m relay race as part of the Virginia High School League (VHSL) Class 3 State Indoor Championships on 4 March.
I.C. Norcom High School student Everett appeared to hit Tucker in the back of the head with a baton after she attempted an overtake, causing her to run off the track and go to ground before being treated by medics.
Everett has since released footage that claims her innocence, while alternative footage of the incident may suggest otherwise.
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Tucker, 16, has since revealed that she has suffered a concussion and a possible skull fracture as a result of the altercation, while Everett has remained adamant that she 'lost her balance' in the race, which led to the incident.
The former, who represents Brookville High School, and her family called for a protective order following her injuries.
Since then, Lynchburg Commonwealth’s Attorney Bethany Harrison confirmed that Everett had been given a misdemeanour charge of assault and battery, as reported by ABC News.
But now, more new footage has surfaced of the incident, showing us a new angle of the athletes making their way around the bend.
The video makes it look as if Everett winds her arm back before hitting Tucker over the head, in contrary to the angle that she had released to Good Morning America.
Everett had previously claimed: “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.”
But in the video, her arm can be seen swinging out, away from a regular running motion, before seemingly striking Tucker.
This footage was released after Everett was charged with assault and battery - no court date has been set yet.
But following the controversial incident, the Virginia teen held a rally with a number of her supporters on Thursday (13 March) in an attempt to highlight her innocence.
This rally took place just one day after her charges were filed, and it was held outside her High School in Portsmouth, Virginia.
The 18-year-old addressed her supporters, as reported by WAVY, saying: “Thank y’all for supporting me.
“There’s no one else that wanted to hear my story, except the people that know me and people that know I would never do anything like that, I would never harm anybody.
“I’m not a fighter, I’m not even confrontational, I wouldn’t even do that on purpose, and I thank y’all for believing in me. I love y’all,” she concluded.
The crowd applauded the teen, and started a chant saying 'we stand with you', with Portsmouth NAACP President James Boyd also taking the opportunity to speak at the rally, addressing the abuse towards the athlete's family.
“The Everett family has experienced racial slurs, they’ve experienced death threats, and we think unequivocally that those things are unacceptable,” he highlighted.
Joshua Nair