A mother is suing Charlotte Hornets star LaMelo Ball and the team.
Angell Joseph was 11 at the time. Now he’s 12.
Tamaria McRae says last Oct. 7, after a Charlotte Hornets event, fans were outside the arena, going up to players as they left.
“[Angell] was like, ‘LaMelo, I love you. I love you, sign my ... give me your autograph. Can you sign it for me?’ McRae told Action 9′s Jason Stoogenke.
She says Ball did not sign anything and drove off.
“I just seen my son kind of go down and I thought maybe he had dropped something,” she said.
But she says Angell had not dropped anything, that Ball had driven over his foot, breaking it.
A mother says Hornets star LaMelo Ball drove over her son’s foot and broke it. She’s suing the player and the team on his behalf: https://t.co/56cWavwHRX
“This is his hero, his idol, and he got run over by him,” their lawyer, Cameron DeBrun, said.
McRae says her son has spent months recovering, in more ways than one.
“For a while, I couldn’t even recognize who my child was because, like depression, not being able to go outside and play,” she said.
“When you see your children hurt, it hurts you,” she added. “It’s been rough. It’s been real rough. I mean like I’m a strong person. This broke me. This right here, it really did.”
DeBrun says Angell’s family would have filed a claim with Ball’s insurance to pay his medical bills, but the police report is missing key information, like Ball’s insurer and even his name.
“Because that information was not provided, we only have one recourse and that‘s the court system,” DeBrun said.
Stoogenke asked him if the family is “just going after [Ball] because he’s a celebrity and he has deep pockets.”
“I’d say if that was the case, we would have done this a long time ago. They had no desire to seek legal action. They wanted healing,” DeBrun replied.
Charlotte Hornets players LaMelo Ball and Vasilije Micic along with Hugo the Hornet visited Novant Health Hemby Children’s Hospital on April 8, 2024. The group went room-to-room delivering and autographing Hugo children’s books and visiting with patients and their families.
Charlotte Hornets players LaMelo Ball and Vasilije Micic along with Hugo the Hornet visited Novant Health Hemby Children’s Hospital on April 8, 2024. The group went room-to-room delivering and autographing Hugo children’s books and visiting with patients and their families.
Charlotte Hornets players LaMelo Ball and Vasilije Micic along with Hugo the Hornet visited Novant Health Hemby Children’s Hospital on April 8, 2024. The group went room-to-room delivering and autographing Hugo children’s books and visiting with patients and their families.
Charlotte Hornets players LaMelo Ball and Vasilije Micic along with Hugo the Hornet visited Novant Health Hemby Children’s Hospital on April 8, 2024. The group went room-to-room delivering and autographing Hugo children’s books and visiting with patients and their families.
CHARLOTTE, NC - NOVEMBER 16: LaMelo Ball (1) of the Charlotte Hornets drives to the basket during a basketball game between the Charlotte Hornets and the Indiana Pacers on Nov 16, 2022 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, NC. (Photo by David Jensen/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Nov 4, 2022; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (1) catches a pass during warm ups prior to the game against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports - 19358629
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - OCTOBER 10: LaMelo Ball #1 of the Charlotte Hornets reacts as he is fouled and injured during the third quarter of the game against the Washington Wizards at Spectrum Center on October 10, 2022 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
DaBaby presents the Best Breakthrough Athlete Award to Charlotte Hornets star LaMelo Ball onstage during the 2021 ESPY Awards.
Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball is expected to miss multiple weeks with a right ankle sprain, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
In the Hornets’ game against the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday night, Ball had the tattoo covered up, as Channel 9 could see.
Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball holds his ankle after being shaken up on a play during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Detroit Pistons in Charlotte, N.C., Monday, Feb. 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
LaMelo Ball (2) and Terry Rozier (3) have been bright spots for the Charlotte Hornets.
Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (2) drives around Portland Trail Blazers forward Robert Covington (33) after Hornets center Mason Plumlee (24) set a screen during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Oct. 31, 2021, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)
Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (2) drives to the basket while guarded by Indiana Pacers guard T.J. McConnell (9) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2021.
LaMelo Ball (2) and Terry Rozier (3) were bright spots on last season's much-improved Charlotte Hornets team.
Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (2) in action during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards, Sunday, May 16, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
WOLLONGONG, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 21: American teenage star, LaMelo Ball, poses for a photograph during an Illawarra Hawks NBL media opportunity at The Snakepit on August 21, 2019 in Wollongong, Australia. (Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images)
They’re also suing the Hornets. That day was the team’s annual Purple and Teal Day and -- the family claims -- the team should have had more measures in place to protect fans who would be trying to get close to players.
The Charlotte Hornets told Action 9 it does not have a comment about the lawsuit.
Stoogenke is trying to reach Ball’s agent for a response but did not hear back in time for this report.
VIDEO: NC Attorney General sues local flooring company Action 9 investigated
The Charlotte Hornets announced on Thursday morning that it hired Boston Celtics assistant Charles Lee, who will join the team once Boston's playoff run is complete.
The Yanks head home after a very successful nine-game California trip — they went 7-2 — for a series against (who else?) their all-time punching bag: the Minnesota Twins.
Chicago White Sox outfielder Tommy Pham told reporters he's always prepared to fight after an on-field confrontation with Milwaukee Brewers catcher William Contreras.
Dani Carvajal and Vinicius Junior scored goals in the second half to give Real Madrid its 15th Champions League title with a 2–0 win over Borussia Dortmund.
