MALONE — A Franklin Academy lacrosse player’s family is seeking criminal charges against an Ogdensburg player who slammed his stick into the head of a Huskies player, causing a concussion, during an April 20 game at Crowner Field in Malone.

The incident happened during a game between Franklin Academy and the Blue Devils and was captured in a video by NFHS Network, which covers high school sports.

In the game video, the Ogdensburg player is seen walking up to Franklin Academy’s Landyn Pierson, swinging his stick and hitting him in the head. Pierson then crumbles to the ground and lays motionless as the Ogdensburg player tosses his stick in drop-the-mic fashion, and then casually begins to take off his equipment. Players from both teams stood still after the vicious hit, not knowing how to act next. The video of the incident was posted on the Facebook page of the victim’s mother, Bethany Berkman-Pierson.

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Mother’s reaction

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Landyn’s mother on Friday said her son is feeling better, but still suffering from the aftermath of the head blow.

“He is doing OK. He’s still suffering with the headache, nauseous and occasional dizziness. He doesn’t remember a lot, he remembers laying on the field yelling. He got up and his vision was blurry and he was confused,” she said, adding her thoughts on witnessing her son getting hit. “My immediate thoughts were did that really just happen and trying to get over to him as fast as I could to make sure he was OK.”

Mrs. Pierson said Landyn has been diagnosed with a concussion.

“He was taken out of school for a week and follows up again with his doctor on Monday to see if he will be able to return then,” she said.

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Police notified

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Following the incident, the Pierson family followed up by going to the Malone Village Police Department to file a complaint. Although he could not discuss all the details due to it being an ongoing investigation, Police Chief William T. Andre on Friday confirmed that the family initiated official police action on Monday.

Chief Andre said the department has received a deposition from the victim and is waiting for medical records regarding the injury. The matter is being considered by the county attorney for proceedings through a juvenile delinquent petition.

“That’s pretty much where we’re at right now,” he said.

He said the complaint is that “during a lacrosse game, one juvenile player struck another juvenile player with a lacrosse stick in the upper head area that resulted in physical injury.”

Andre also explained that the law is different for juveniles as opposed to adults, which is the reason this situation is being moved through juvenile proceedings, and soon, any additional actions will not come from the local police department, but other agencies that handle such cases.

“We’ve taken the report, we’ve taken the description, we’ve requested the medical records, the only part that this agency (village police) have left to do would be to actually file the juvenile delinquent petition with the appropriate authority,” he explained. “Then they will handle everything from there, our involvement would cease.”

Landyn’s mother said she believes a criminal line was crossed with the stick attack.

“I knew immediately that it was more than a game action hit. I have two children in lacrosse and we are huge Clarkson lacrosse fans and have never seen anything like this. Landyn has been playing for three years and I never would have imagined this would happen,” Berkman-Pierson said. “It should be considered a criminal act because he used his stick as a weapon. When you two-handed swing your lacrosse stick like a baseball bat it is one-hundred percent an intentional act meant to cause harm. He is 15 years old, he knew what would happen as a result of his actions.”

Berkman-Pierson said she wants to see accountability for the action, and she doesn’t think the assault was caused by seeing too much violence.

“Our main goal is to have him held accountable. We would like to see him banned from playing sports again while in high school. This would send a message to others that this is completely unacceptable and won’t be tolerated,” Berkman-Pierson said.

“I don’t think this act was picked up from watching movies or pro sports. It was a teenager who clearly had anger issues and can’t control his emotions,” she said.

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Reactions

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Mark Wilson, director of Section X athletics, provided a statement on the matter on the lacrosse field in an email.

“Section X recognizes the seriousness of this incident and has a process for dealing with such matters, which may include a Section X Sportsmanship Committee review. The school district has its own, separate process, which it is following. The Section cannot comment further at this time,” Wilson wrote in an email.

Ogdensburg City School District Superintendent Kevin K. Kendall said he could not provide any information regarding any actions against the Blue Devils player.

“The district is following its protocols and procedures as required by our Code of Conduct. I cannot comment any further on this matter,” he wrote in an email.

Berkman-Pierson, who reported that the opposing player received a five-day suspension, said she appreciates the support she has received as a result of the situation.

“We would like to thank everyone who has reached out to check on Landyn following his injury. The amount of love and support we have seen is mind blowing! He definitely has a lot of people in his corner and we appreciate you all as we navigate this unfamiliar road,” she said. “We have received tons of support from other parents and members of the community. The amount of messages we have gotten is mind blowing!

She also had a message for the Ogdensburg sports programs.

“My message to them would be I truly hope they take a good look at how many of their athletes, parents and coaches act during sporting events. There is a clear lack of sportsmanship that exists around them and it’s been an issue for years. Someone is going to really get hurt and it’s time things change! No game is worth the health or safety of another student,” she said. “It’s meant to be fun. No parents should have to fear their child playing a sport that they love.

“I would like people to know that we appreciate all the support we have received during this time and we will keep pushing for Landyn to get the justice he deserves,” she added.

Landyn too had a message — but for other sports athletes.

“Don’t let what happened to me make you scared for you or your kids to play lacrosse,” he said. “Lacrosse is more than this and if played correctly you form friends and family within your team and other teams.”