An elementary school basketball game in Plaquemine, Louisiana, took a shocking turn when a heated altercation left the school’s principal in the hospital and two women behind bars.
On January 13, the principal of Iberville Elementary was attending the game after school hours when she noticed two young children wandering onto the court. Concerned for their safety, she stepped in to guide them away from the action—a task she reportedly repeated several times. Surveillance footage captured her lifting one child away while motioning another to stay clear of the busy court.
In her effort to keep the game running smoothly, the principal approached a nearby mother, Alessia Parker, who was accompanied by three children and a friend. She asked Parker to ensure her kids stayed off the court, explaining that it disrupted the game. But the request didn’t sit well with Parker.
According to authorities, Parker, 33, grew visibly upset. Surveillance footage shows her stepping closer to the principal, holding one child’s hand while carrying another. When the principal raised a hand to maintain some distance, Parker allegedly reacted by striking her in the head. The force of the punch knocked the principal from her chair.
A deputy present at the game quickly intervened, but the damage was done. The principal sustained a busted lip and a head injury. She was taken to the hospital for treatment but thankfully returned to work the next day.
Plaquemine Police Chief Stephen Engolio later described the incident as a “brutal attack” but assured the public that the educator was recovering.
Parker turned herself in the next day and was arrested. She now faces charges of battery against a school teacher, which is a felony, along with disturbing the peace and resisting officers. Another woman involved in the incident, 37-year-old Jemecia Godchaux, was also arrested. Authorities alleged that Godchaux, a friend of Parker’s, escalated the situation by making threats and using foul language. She also had a pending bench warrant, police said.
Both women have since been banned from all Iberville Parish schools. In a statement, Superintendent Dr. Louis Voiron condemned their behavior, stressing that such actions would not be tolerated in the school system.
What began as a routine basketball game ended with a stark reminder of how tensions can escalate—but the school community is standing firmly by its principal, grateful she’s on the mend.
