August 28, 2025

Athletic Coordinator Charged with Assault in East Laurens

East Laurens, Georgia, August 28, 2025

News Summary

Chip Fleming, the athletic coordinator at East Laurens High School, has been charged with simple assault after a physical altercation with student-athlete Norrion King during a junior varsity football game. What began as playful banter escalated quickly when Fleming reacted negatively to a comment from King, resulting in a slap. Witness accounts have supported the allegations, leading to formal complaints by King’s mother, Sharetta Ellington, who is also pursuing footage from the event. Community concerns about proper conduct in school athletics have been raised as investigations continue.

East Laurens, Georgia – Athletic Coordinator Charged with Assault

Chip Fleming, the athletic coordinator at East Laurens High School, has been charged with simple assault following an alleged incident involving a student athlete during a junior varsity football game. The incident, which reportedly occurred under contentious circumstances, has raised concerns regarding appropriate conduct in school athletics.

The alleged altercation involved Norrion King, a student-athlete, who made a joking suggestion to Fleming about seeking advice from one of the team’s coaches regarding game strategy. Fleming reportedly perceived the comment as disrespectful and reacted inappropriately by stepping on King’s foot and slapping him. The interaction escalated rather quickly, turning a playful banter into a physical confrontation.

Witnesses to the clash include at least two fellow students who observed the slap. This additional layer of witness accounts has bolstered the claims made by King and his family. Following the incident, King’s mother, Sharetta Ellington, was informed and promptly confronted Fleming in the stadium parking lot, seeking clarity on what transpired. Fleming reportedly admitted to slapping King, describing the action as mere “horse playing.”

Ellington expressed her strong disapproval of Fleming’s actions, highlighting that it is unacceptable for anyone to lay hands on another’s child, regardless of circumstances. In light of the incident, she filed an official complaint with the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office, which has led to Fleming facing charges of simple assault and simple battery.

Current Developments and School Response

As the situation continues to develop, Ellington has requested surveillance footage from East Laurens High School to strengthen her account of the incident. As of now, there has been no release of this footage.

Clifford Garnto, the Superintendent of the Laurens County School District, has refrained from commenting on Fleming’s employment status, referring to it as a personnel matter. This lack of transparency has left many in the community questioning the handling of the case and what consequences Fleming may face within the school system.

The East Laurens Middle/High Schools’ Board plans to meet on September 12 to discuss various matters, but it is unclear if Fleming’s situation will be included in their agenda. This uncertainty continues to fuel discussions around the appropriateness of staff and athlete interactions and how incidents of this nature will be managed in the future.

Background Context

Fleming, who served as the athletic coordinator at East Laurens High School, has been involved with the school’s athletic programs, overseeing various sports and coaching staff. The culture of respect and sportsmanship is integral to the function of school athletics, and incidents like this raise alarms about the role of authority figures in maintaining those values.

As investigations proceed following the complaint and charges, both the school district and the community will be keenly watching how this case is handled and what steps are taken to ensure the safety and wellbeing of student-athletes in the future.

FAQ

What were the circumstances of the incident involving Chip Fleming?

It involved a physical altercation between Chip Fleming and student Norrion King during a junior varsity football game, where King jokingly suggested retrieving game strategy advice from a coach, leading to Fleming stepping on King’s foot and slapping him.

What actions did Sharetta Ellington take following the incident?

Sharetta Ellington confronted Chip Fleming after being informed of the incident, filed a complaint with the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office, and requested surveillance footage from the school.

What charges has Chip Fleming faced?

Chip Fleming has been charged with simple assault and simple battery stemming from the incident with Norrion King.

Key Features of the Incident

Feature	Details
Involved Persons	Chip Fleming (Athletic Coordinator), Norrion King (Student-Athlete)
Date of Incident	During a junior varsity football game
Incident Type	Physical altercation, slap
Witnesses	At least two students
Formal Complaints	Filed by Sharetta Ellington with local authorities
Superintendent’s Statement	No comment on employee status due to personnel matters
Next School Board Meeting	September 12 (Agenda unknown)