DOUGLASVILLE, Ga. — A 12-year-old Douglas County seventh grader said there's a reason he appeared distracted while playing in a recent basketball game at Harvester Christian Academy in Douglasville.
"I just felt really emotional. I took my anger out on the court," said the seventh grader, whose name Channel 2 is not revealing.
His school, Colonial Hills Christian School, of Lithia Springs, was playing against Harvester.
"I was just getting mad, … just doing everything wrong," he said.
But it wasn't until he headed home with his family that he told his parents what happened.
It was just before halftime when a man standing on the Harvester sideline said something to the student about the player he was guarding. The student told Channel 2 Action News reporter Eric Philips that the comments left him terrified.
"I looked at the man, and he was like, ‘Touch that little boy again. I ought to shoot you … you little f-in' N-word," the student said.
"I was very angry; … anger built up real fast," said Elizabeth Young, the student's mother. "I'm hurt as a mother and felt like I had to do something about it."
Turns out, at least one other student on her son's team reported being called the N-word during that same game, as documented in a report filed at the school that Channel 2 obtained.
Young also filed a report with the Douglas County Sheriff's Office.
"Only thing you can do is pray for a person like that," said Young.
The person who allegedly made the statement to her son has been identified and authorities are investigating. But the thought that someone threatened their son is what most frustrates the student's parents.
"I wasn't able to protect him and that puts a great burden on me as a father, as a man," said Arnez Young, the student's father.
"It made me feel bad," the student said.
WSBTV
