Shaquille O’Neal is under investigation for allegedly assaulting a Turner Studios co-worker.
O’Neal’s lawyer, Dennis Roach, claims the incident was merely “horseplay,” but accuser Robert Williams says he suffered injuries from the 2013 incident.
O’Neal “ran out of a room and hit me with a tackle punch to the back knocking me down and falling on top of me injuring my neck and back,” the police report reads, according to WSB-TV in Atlanta.
According to his lawyer, Williams had to undergo surgery for the ailments suffered because of the episode.
“We understand that the physical attack by Shaquille O’Neal upon Mr. Robert Williams is under criminal investigation,” Williams’ attorney said in a statement to WSB. “Mr. Williams is presently recovering after surgery.
“However, he does state, emphatically, that the permanent injuries he received were not the result of participation in any form of ‘horseplay.'”
The case went from Turner security to the Atlanta Police Department, but charges have yet to be filed.
“At the conclusion of their investigation, we’ll have their findings and we’ll go forth from there, whether charges will be filed, whether it [will] be reviewed by the DA’s Office,” Atlanta police Sgt. Greg Lyon said, according to WSB.
O’Neal, who comes in at 7 feet 1 and 325 pounds, has worked as a TNT and NBA TV analyst since 2011 after retiring after 19 NBA seasons, which included four NBA titles and 15 All-Star appearances.
It “was nothing more than horseplay. No one intended for anyone to get injured,” Roach said.