Hornets’ LaMelo Ball sued for allegedly hitting boy with car while leaving Spectrum Center after fan event

A Charlotte mother is suing LaMelo Ball and the Hornets on behalf of her child, alleging the NBA guard hit her son with his car as he left the Spectrum Center after a fan event in early October 2023, lawsuit says filed Tuesday in Mecklenburg (NC) County Superior Court. Tamaria McRae is also suing the Hornets for negligence, according to the lawsuit.

Ball, who was participating in an event called “Purple and Teal Day at the Hive,” reportedly exited the arena in his car as it entered the employee entrance. Fans, including McRae and his son Angell Joseph, then 11, waited at the employee entrance to get autographs from the players as they left the arena in their vehicles.

According to the lawsuit, Joseph approached Ball’s vehicle while it was stopped at a traffic light in front of the employee’s driveway. When the light turned green, Ball allegedly “suddenly accelerated his vehicle” and struck Joseph before leaving the scene. Joseph, according to the lawsuit, suffered “severe and painful injuries.” According to multiple reports, Joseph suffered a broken foot during the alleged incident.

The lawsuit alleges that Ball was negligent by operating a vehicle “without maintaining proper control,” failing to “yield the right of way to a pedestrian” and “apply his brakes in time to avoid an incident with a pedestrian.” “.

The lawsuit alleges that the Hornets failed to “provide adequate safety and pedestrian control measures when employees exit the Spectrum Center.” The Hornets allegedly failed to “properly train employees” or “establish safety protocols” to protect pedestrians when players left the Spectrum Center, according to the lawsuit.

The family is seeking more than $25,000 in compensatory damages from Ball and the Hornets.

The Hornets declined to comment. Ball’s agent also declined to comment.

Ball, 22, was the third overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. An All-Star in 2022, Ball averaged 23.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and 8.0 assists per game on 43.3% shooting. shots from the floor during the 2023-24 season.

(Photo: Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)