Hornets star LaMelo Ball sued for allegedly running over young fan's foot with car
The Charlotte Hornets and LaMelo Ball are being sued by a North Carolina mother who alleges that Ball struck her 11-year-old son with his vehicle while he was attempting to get an autograph from the star, according to reports.
The alleged incident happened Oct. 7 following "Purple and Teal Day at the Hive," an annual fan event hosted by the Hornets at the Spectrum Center in downtown Charlotte, according to the lawsuit obtained by USA TODAY Sports.
Tamaria McRae claims that her son Angell Joseph was outside the arena's employee entrance after the event concluded when he saw Ball leaving in a SUV. Joseph and other fans approached Ball's vehicle for autographs when he was stopped at a red light, but when the light turned green, McRae alleges that Ball "accelerated his vehicle forward suddenly and without warning" in a "grossly negligent and reckless manner" and ran over her son's foot.
"(Angell) was like, 'LaMelo, I love you. I love you … give me your autograph. Can you sign it for me?'" McRae recalled to local news station WSOC-TV, adding, "I just seen my son kind of go down."
The suit says Ball left the scene, although Angell Joseph, now 12, suffered a broken foot.
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McRae said the family is suing for damages for physical pain and emotional distress.
USA TODAY Sports has reached out to the family's attorney, Cameron deBrun, as well as representation for Ball, but has not yet received a response.
Contributing: USA TODAY Sports' Steve Gardner and Tom Schad.