HARMAN, W.Va. — A former basketball player at Harman High School in Randolph County is facing three felony charges after an on-court incident.
Gage Ketterman, 18, of Bowden, has been charged with malicious assault and two counts of attempted malicious assault after he allegedly broke an opponent’s nose during a game.
The incident took place on February 26, during a game between Harman and Union. The mother of the 17-year-old victim contacted State Police after her son had been elbowed in the face, which broke his nose and caused him to bleed for a few hours.
Game video was provided to police. The criminal complaint filed by the victim’s mother stated that “the actions of this boy were obviously intentional, and he was trying to hurt people.”
Police reviewed multiple clips from the game, one where Ketterman “placed both his feet firmly on the floor, reared back and swung his elbow directly into the face of (the victim),” and another that showed Ketterman “swinging his elbow wildly again and striking the back of the head” of the same player. A third clip reportedly showed Ketterman swinging his elbow towards the head of a different Union player.
Ketterman was released on bond.
His preliminary hearing is set for May 22.