Angell Joseph was 11 years old at the time. He is now 12 years old.
Tamaria McRae said that last Oct. 7, after a Charlotte Hornets event, fans were outside the arena and approached the players as they were leaving.
“(Angell) told me, ‘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.
( Charlotte Hornets will pick 6th in the upcoming NBA draft )
She says Ball didn’t sign anything and left.
“I just saw my son fall and thought maybe he dropped something,” she said.
But she said Angell didn’t drop anything, that Ball ran over her foot, breaking it.
“He’s his hero, his idol, and he was crushed by him,” said their lawyer, Cameron DeBrun.
McRae says her son spent months recovering, in more ways than one.
Angell Joseph (Courtesy of the McRae family)
“For a while, I couldn’t even recognize who my child was because of the depression, not being able to go out and play,” she said.
“When you see your children suffering, it hurts you,” she added. “It was hard. It was really hard. I mean, I’m a strong person. It broke me. Here it really is.
DeBrun says Angell’s family allegedly 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 this information was not provided, we only have one recourse and that is the court system,” DeBrun said.
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Stoogenke asked him if the family is “just going after (Ball) because he’s a celebrity and he has deep pockets.”
“I would say if that was the case, we would have done it a long time ago. They had no desire to take legal action. They wanted healing,” DeBrun responded.
Hornets players visit patients at Novant Health Hemby Children’s Hospital 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 signing children’s books from Hugo and visit patients and their families. (Courtesy of Charlotte Hornets)
Hornets players visit patients at Novant Health Hemby Children’s Hospital 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 signing children’s books from Hugo and visit patients and their families. (Courtesy of Charlotte Hornets)
Hornets players visit patients at Novant Health Hemby Children’s Hospital 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 signing children’s books from Hugo and visit patients and their families. (Courtesy of Charlotte Hornets)
Hornets players visit patients at Novant Health Hemby Children’s Hospital 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 signing children’s books from Hugo and visit patients and their families. (Courtesy of Charlotte Hornets)
NBA: NOVEMBER 16 Pacers vs. Hornets 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 November 16, 2022 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, Carolina North. (Photo by David Jensen/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
NBA: Charlotte Hornets vs. Memphis Grizzlies November 4, 2022; Memphis, Tennessee, United States; Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (1) catches a pass during warmups before the game against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports – 19358629
Washington Wizards vs. Charlotte Hornets CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – OCTOBER 10: LaMelo Ball #1 of the Charlotte Hornets reacts to being 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 consents to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
ESPYS 2021 DaBaby presents the Best Breakthrough Athlete award to Charlotte Hornets star LaMelo Ball on stage during the 2021 ESPY Awards. (Kevin Mazur/Getty Images)
LeMelo Ball’s first lifestyle shoe drops Friday (VIA PUMA)
LaMelo Ball injury Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball is expected to miss several weeks with a sprained right ankle, sources tell ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. (ESPN)
Ball LaMelo During the Hornets’ game against the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday night, Ball covered up the tattoo, as Channel 9 saw. (WSOC)
Pistons Hornets Basketball Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball holds his ankle after being shaken on a play during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Detroit Pistons in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Monday February 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman) (The Associated Press)
LaMelo Ball in new Charlotte Hornets uniform (Charlotte Frelons)
Hornets win renewal of two key trade partners amid rising attendance LaMelo Ball (2) and Terry Rozier (3) were bright spots for the Charlotte Hornets. (Charlotte Business Journal)
Hornets beat Portland Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (2) walks around Portland Trail Blazers forward Robert Covington (33) after Hornets center Mason Plumlee (24) sets a screen during the first half of a basketball game -NBA ball, Sunday October 31, 2021, in Charlotte. , North Carolina (AP Photo/Matt Kelley) (The Associated Press)
Ball LaMelo Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (2) drives to the basket while guarded by Indiana Pacers guard TJ McConnell (9) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, SC North, Wednesday October 20, 2021. ((AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman))
Charlotte Frelons LaMelo Ball (2) and Terry Rozier (3) were highlights of the Charlotte Hornets’ much-improved team last season. (KENT SMITH/CBJ)
Ball LaMelo The 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) (Nick Wass/AP)
Media Opportunity with the Illawarra Hawks WOLLONGONG, AUSTRALIA – AUGUST 21: American teenage star LaMelo Ball poses for a photo during an Illawarra Hawks NBL media opportunity at Snakepit on August 21, 2019 in Wollongong, Australia. (Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images) (Mark Evans/Getty Images)
They are also chasing the Hornets. That day was the team’s annual Purple and Teal Day and — according to the family — the team should have put more measures in place to protect fans who tried to get close to the players.
The Charlotte Hornets told Action 9 they had no comment on the lawsuit.
Stoogenke attempted to reach Ball’s agent for a response, but did not receive a response in time for this report.
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