Sha'Carri Richardson arrest: U.S. Olympian issues public apology for domestic violence incident

U.S. Olympic gold medal-winning sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson has apologized for a July 27 domestic violence arrest in which she repeatedly shoved boyfriend and fellow sprinter Christian Coleman inside the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Richardson, 25, posted her apology to her personal Instagram page, specificially directed at Coleman, who chose not to press charges over the incident that was reportedly a dispute over headphones, according to TMZ.

“I apologize to Christian. He came into my life and gave me more than a relationship but a greater understanding of unconditional love from what I’ve experiencced in my past,” Richardson’s message on Instagram read, according to TMZ. “Due to my past trauma and pain, I was blind and blocked off to not only receive it but give it. I love him and to him I can’t apologize enough. My apologize (sic) should be just as loud as my actions, honestly louder. To Christian, I love you and I am so sorry. — S.R.”

Richarson was initially booked on a single fourth-degree assault domestic violence charge that was eventually dropped after Coleman declined to press charges and publicly condemned the arrest. The fourth-degree charge is the lowest degree of severity in Washington State, according to LetsRun.com, which first reported the news. The arresting officer said the shove gave probable cause to arrest Richardson. However, police reports said Coleman “declined to be a victim.”

“I don’t feel as if she should have been arrested,” Coleman said. “People have expressions and emotions and stuff like that. She has things that she needs to work on for herself of course, and so do I. So do you. Everybody. I’m the type of guy that I’m in the business of extending mercy and extending grace and extending love.”

Sha’Carri Richardson arrest: Surveillance video emerges of alleged altercation

Surveillance video emerged of Sha’Carri Richardson’s arrest on an assault offense, TMZ reported. The Olympic gold medalist faced an assault offense, but her boyfriend Christian Coleman opted not to press charges.

The alleged incident occurred at a TSA security checkpoint at Seattle Tacoma International Airport late last month, according to The Athletic. An officer said Richardson and Coleman got into a heated argument, and Richardson allegedly shoved Coleman multiple times when he started walking away.

The video shows Richardson walking quickly behind Coleman, which is when she appeared to shove him multiple times, including into a post. The altercation then appeared to continue into the security line.

— On3’s Nick Schultz contributed to this report.