A Georgia singer is accused of striking a woman during a live performance, allegedly leaving her with two black eyes as police issued an arrest warrant in connection with the reported assault.
Soul singer Sky Whatley faces a simple battery charge after he was captured on video allegedly slapping Shamika Boyd while performing at the Legendary Awards Show & Concert on Sept. 6, 11Alive reported.
Authorities issued a warrant for Whatley earlier this week, though the musician had not been arrested, according to the outlet.
Whatley, who has approximately 3,500 monthly Spotify listeners, was performing at the Londzell Performing Arts Theatre in Tucker, Georgia, when he allegedly struck Boyd without provocation.
“When he hit me, I was devastated because I’m thinking, ‘Why did he hit me? He had no reason to hit me,’” Boyd told 11Alive in September.
Boyd attended the event to support her daughter, who was working as a DJ.
The alleged blow was forceful enough to dislodge composite material from one of Boyd’s teeth, and she suffered two black eyes, according to the outlet.
“That’s the part that I don’t understand when I did nothing to him,” Boyd said of the alleged unprovoked attack. “He was in no harm, no threat or anything.”
Boyd also alleges that Whatley made a crude gesture toward her and directed profanity at her after the incident.
“After he flipped me off, he was like, ‘Eff you B, this is for the real men,’” Boyd said.
Boyd reported the alleged assault to police after the concert, but she said no action was taken until this week.
Her attorney criticized law enforcement for what she described as a delayed response to the video-recorded incident.
“They’re just not doing their job,” Boyd’s attorney, Shannin Render, told the outlet. “I’ve done this for about 10 years now, and when there’s an active warrant, you get picked up. Especially with something of such notoriety. Unfortunately, Ms. Boyd let me know that they’re deciding not to go forward and they’re going to let him turn himself in.”
Render said Boyd is considering legal action against Whatley and may seek compensation for medical care as well as possible lost income.
“It’s not appropriate for you to enter a venue for you to be assaulted and then have to carry the burden of your medical expenses, transportation fees, and the recovery process of not being able to work or things of that nature,” Render said.
“So, that’s where we come in to establish who was accountable and hold them accountable.”
