INDIANAPOLIS — A video of a student taunting a player with epilepsy at an Indiana high school basketball game Friday night has gone viral on social media.
During the match between Center Grove High School and Cathedral High School, James Franklin Jr. was taking a free throw shot when a kid fell on the floor and started shaking like he was having a seizure, James Franklin Jr.'s mom, Tamieka Franklin, said.
"To see that last night [Friday] was totally disgusting," Tamieka Franklin said. "Very hurtful."
Because of the seizures James Franklin Jr. was having, at one point he was taking 11 medications a day. But that wasn’t working — so he needed to have surgery.
He underwent a successful surgery performed by Dr. Jody Smith in August 2017 at Riley Children's Hospital to control the seizures.
“If they knew what it is like to not be able to drive,” James Franklin Jr. said. “Not to be able to go anywhere by yourself, be left alone, can't even use the restroom without closing the door. You wouldn't make a mockery of such a thing."
In a tweet, Center Grove High School said the incident does not represent their school.
CGHS is working with Cathedral to move forward after Friday’s game. This situation does not represent our school or community values. CGHS does not condone unsportsmanlike or disparaging behavior. In all situations, we must show respect and consider how our actions impact others.
— Center Grove HS (@CenterGroveHS) December 1, 2018
The Indiana High School Athletic Association said in a tweet that they are in communication with administrations at both schools.
The IHSAA has been in communication with both school administrations regarding the unfortunate student fan incident in the Center Grove vs. Cathedral game. Our school administrators are addressing the matter and will use this as learning experience. #educationbasedathletics
— IHSAA (@IHSAA1) December 1, 2018
Tamieka Franklin says the student involved in the mocking has apologized to her son.
