A University of Georgia student allegedly disguised himself as a high school cross-country runner before ambushing an athlete and attacking him with rocks during a race.
Aiden Dombrowski is accused of carrying out the assault after infiltrating the Coweta Cup Cross Country Championship at Newnan High School on Saturday, according to Newnan police.
Dombrowski, 19, reportedly drove about 110 miles from the University of Georgia campus in Athens to Newnan, Georgia, on Friday night. He allegedly 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 moved through the woods. Investigators say he waited there until a Newnan High School runner passed by.
Witnesses told police they saw Dombrowski holding rocks, but said he ultimately pushed the runner and struck him with his fists.
Witnesses compared the bizarre attack to a scene from a Netflix movie, Fox 5 Atlanta reported.
The unidentified runner fought back, eventually forcing Dombrowski away from the course and into the surrounding 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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In a conversation with officers, Dombrowski claimed the incident was a prank and denied attacking the runner, whom he described as an “acquaintance.”
He provided no further explanation.
“So you don’t know that kid at all,” one 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. He also reportedly did not explain how he obtained the school’s uniform.
Before attending UGA, Dombrowski studied at nearby Northgate High School. According to his NCSA College Recruiting profile, he hoped to break 15 minutes in the 5K before graduating and aimed to “improve considerably” in college.
Dombrowski does not appear on the University of Georgia’s cross-country or track team rosters.