A young basketball player is now facing multiple felony charges due to an alleged assault on another player during a game.
Gage Ketterman, who plays for Harman High School in Randolph County, West Virginia, has been charged with three felonies following an incident that drew police attention.
The 18-year-old is accused of “maliciously” elbowing an opponent in the face and fracturing his nose during a game between Harman High and Union High School last month.
According to court records reviewed by WBOY, Ketterman was arrested on Monday (April 7) in connection with the alleged mid-game assault.
Local authorities were informed of the assault on February 27 after the injured student’s mother contacted them to report the severity of her son’s injuries.
The mother, residing in Elk Garden, claimed her 17-year-old son was elbowed in the face by an opponent, later named as Ketterman, leading to a nosebleed that persisted for more than four hours.
The injured player had to receive medical care at Garrett Memorial Hospital as he had difficulty stopping the bleeding.
Disturbing video evidence of the event was provided to the authorities, supporting the mother’s account by capturing the teen hitting the other player in the face.
Ketterman is accused of forcefully and purposefully striking the Union player with his elbow.
Furthermore, he allegedly attempted to hit other players from the opposing team on the back of the head.
At one stage during the game, Ketterman reportedly appears to be “wiping something off the elbow he had just used to strike [the player].”
The police described his actions as “intentional and criminally malicious.”
Since Ketterman was 18 at the time, he will face charges as an adult, the police confirmed.
As a result, three arrest warrants were issued against him, including one for malicious assault and two for attempted malicious assault.
Ketterman was taken into custody on Monday and released on the same day after posting a $12,500 bond, according to West Virginia Magistrate Court records.
His next court appearance is scheduled for May 22.