Mother sues LaMelo Ball after he allegedly drove over 11-year-old son's foot and broke it at a fan. 

Mother sues LaMelo Ball after he allegedly drove over 11-year-old son's foot and broke it at a fan event
A North Carolina mother, Tamaira McRae, has taken legal action against Charlotte Hornets star LaMelo Ball and the team, alleging that Ball ran over her 11-year-old son Angell Joseph’s foot with his car, resulting in a serious injury. This incident reportedly occurred during a fan event at the Spectrum Center last fall, as detailed by WSOC-TV.
McRae and her son were attending the Hornets' annual "Purple and Teal Day" event in October. As the event drew to a close, fans began approaching the players as they were leaving the arena and heading to their cars. Angell Joseph, eager to meet his idol, approached LaMelo Ball and asked for an autograph.
In an interview with WSOC-TV, McRae recounted the moment: “He was like, ’LaMelo I love you. I love you, sign my … give me your autograph. Can you sign it for me?’” Despite the heartfelt plea, Ball did not stop to sign anything for Joseph. Instead, he allegedly "accelerated his vehicle forward suddenly," running over Joseph's foot and breaking it. The specific details of the injury have not been disclosed, but McRae described the subsequent recovery process as extremely challenging for both her and her son.
“For a while, I couldn’t even recognize who my child was because of depression, not being able to go outside and play,” McRae said. “When you see your children hurt, it hurts you. It’s been rough. It’s been real rough. I mean, like I’m a strong person. This broke me.”
Their attorney, Cameron DeBrun, explained to WSOC-TV that they initially intended to file a claim with Ball’s insurance company. However, the police report from the incident was incomplete, missing key information that is crucial for such claims. This lack of documentation ultimately led them to file a lawsuit. The lawsuit, which was filed in Mecklenburg County Superior Court, also names the Hornets, alleging that the team did not "provide adequate security and pedestrian control measures" at the Spectrum Center’s employee exit during the event.
According to the lawsuit, LaMelo Ball was negligent in operating his vehicle by not maintaining proper control, failing to yield the right of way to a pedestrian, and not applying his brakes in time to avoid the incident. These alleged actions are cited as the reasons for the injury to Angell Joseph.
The timing of the lawsuit coincides with LaMelo Ball's challenging season. Ball, who is 22 years old, appeared in just 22 games for the Hornets last season due to a lingering ankle injury. Despite his limited playtime, he managed to achieve a career-high average of 23.9 points and eight assists per game. Ball is set to start the first year of a substantial five-year, $204 million contract extension with the Hornets this fall.
The case brings to light concerns about player conduct and event safety, highlighting the responsibilities of both athletes and sports organizations in ensuring the safety and well-being of their fans, especially during public events.