A disturbing video was taken of a 13-year-old California basketball player stomping on the head of a defenseless player, prompting police to launch an investigation into the brutal attack.
The on-camera attack happened during a game between two Bay Area teams, Tumakbo United – a Filipino-American youth basketball team – and Payton’s Place at the College of Alameda on Sunday, ABC7 reported.
The victim, who plays for Tumakbo, caught the basket from his teammate but was very guarded against the opponent.
He falls to the ground and loses possession, causing both players to fight and pull each other for a chance to get the ball back.
But when two players scuffle on the ground, another Payton’s Place player walks over and forcefully stomps the opposing player’s head on the hardwood.
The stomping ignited an immediate response from the referee, who blew the whistle and brought the brute out of the court as other players and coaches swarmed him.
“He was down on the floor, and this kid just came and just stepped on him and on his head,” the victim’s mother, Eva Guingab, told ABC 7.
“You can clearly see the shoe size on his face. My son had a concussion the first time he played basketball.”
A photo taken after the game shows the side of the son’s head beaten red with shoe marks visible from the neck to the top of his head.
His mother said her son was in concussion protocol and had a headache.
“I think everyone was shocked,” Tumakbo United coach Michael Tolentino told the outlet.
“I think we all went on the field and went to the coach of the other team to say, ‘What’s going on? What’s going on?'”
However, the family of the Payton’s Place player who did the stomping say the boy was standing up for his friend who they believe was kicked and punched in the scuffle.
The family also said that after the video went viral online, the boy was molested by adults.
An unidentified Payton’s Place player was kicked out of the gym after the attack.
“There was footage of one of the team’s games last weekend. Unfortunately, the footage is not a positive representation of our team and our values,” Peyton’s Place said on Instagram.
“The behavior exhibited by our players is unacceptable, and is taken very seriously. We do not tolerate violence. Our players are expected to act with integrity both on and off the field. At this time, both teams are working together to resolve this matter.
Race was not a factor in the incident, coaches for both teams told local outlets.
Guingab has since filed a report with the Alameda Police Department, and is under investigation for the stomping, according to the outlet.
The Alameda County District Attorney will decide whether or not to file charges after the police investigation.
“If we don’t say anything now, this kid will think it’s okay because he’s young,” Guingab said. “They think it’s okay to walk away from this situation, and it’s okay.”
On Tuesday, Peyton’s Place said it removed the player from its roster and that the behavior was “unexpected.”
“The players involved do not play for the Payton’s Place team,” the team said. “His behavior was unexpected. We are working to help provide resources to prevent this in the future. Violence has never been a part of our team. On behalf of the Payton’s Place Family, we sincerely apologize to the players injured in this incident, their families, and all those affected.
