A University of Georgia student allegedly disguised himself as a high school cross-country runner before ambushing an athlete mid-race and attacking him with rocks.
Newnan police said Aiden Dombrowski allegedly carried out the assault after entering the Coweta Cup Cross Country Championship at Newnan High School on Saturday.
Dombrowski, 19, reportedly drove about 110 miles from the University of Georgia campus in Athens to Newnan, Georgia, on Friday night. He then slept in his car while waiting for the meet to begin.
The following morning, Dombrowski allegedly put on an East Coweta High School cross-country uniform and made his way through the woods. He waited there until a Newnan High School runner passed by.
Witnesses told police that Dombrowski was carrying rocks, but allegedly pushed the runner and punched him instead.
According to Fox 5 Atlanta, witnesses compared the surprising attack to a scene from a Netflix movie.
The unidentified runner fought back, prompting Dombrowski to flee from the course and disappear into the woods.
As he fled, Dombrowski allegedly changed clothes and discarded the school uniform in his car. He later surrendered to police, who had been searching for him.
When Dombrowski turned himself in, he appeared to be wearing a tracksuit from another school.
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While speaking with officers, Dombrowski reportedly characterized the incident as a prank. He denied attacking the runner, referring to him as an “acquaintance.”
He provided no further explanation.
“So you don’t know that kid at all,” an officer asked Dombrowski, according to body camera footage of the arrest obtained by the outlet.
“I know him, I’m not friends with him,” Dombrowski replied. “No bad blood. Acquaintances.”
Dombrowski was arrested and charged with battery.
He was booked into the Coweta County Jail.
His mugshot showed Dombrowski with blood on his face and a gash near his right eye, an injury he allegedly suffered during the confrontation.
Police later said Dombrowski had never attended East Coweta High School and did not explain how he obtained the school’s cross-country uniform.
Before enrolling at UGA, Dombrowski attended nearby Northgate High School. His NCSA College Recruiting profile states that he hoped to break 15 minutes in the 5K before graduating and aimed to “improve considerably” in college.
He does not appear on the University of Georgia’s cross-country or track team rosters.
