Virginia high school runner at center of baton incident charged with assault and battery

A Virginia high school track athlete has been charged with assault and battery after hitting a competing runner captured in a viral video during a track meet in Portsmouth, Virginia.

Alaila Everett is facing the charges after hitting Kaelen Tucker with a baton -- leaving Tucker with a concussion and possibly fractured skull. Judges immediately disqualified Everett for contact interference.

A court date has not yet been set.

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In a video that rapidly spread online, Tucker is seen being struck by the baton, leading to an outpouring of online commentary, including harassment and death threats directed at Everett.



Everett, a senior at Portsmouth High School, expressed that the incident was purely accidental.