A North Carolina woman has filed a lawsuit against Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball and the team, contending Ball struck her then-11-year-old son with his SUV.
USA Today and ESPN, whom reviewed the lawsuit, said Wednesday that Tamaria McRae alleges that her son approached Ball's vehicle as he was exiting "Purple and Team Day at the Hive," a fan event that was held Oct. 7 at the Hornets' arena in downtown Charlotte. The boy, Angell Joseph, was among the fans who headed toward Ball while he was stopped at a red light, per the report.
McRae claims in the suit that when the light turned green, Ball took off "in a grossly negligent and reckless manner in that he accelerated his vehicle forward suddenly and without warning and struck" the boy.