Alabama star guard Brandon Miller, an NBA Draft lottery hopeful, had reportedly brought a handgun to his teammate, Darius Miles, who was charged with capital murder in January. Miller's involvement in supplying the gun allowed Miles to commit the shooting that killed 23-year-old Jamea Jonae Harris.
Previous information about the murders was that Alabama junior forward Darius Miles and Michael Lynn Davis, unaffiliated with the University of Alabama, had fired shots into a vehicle with three people inside, which led to the death of Jamea Jonae Harris, reported on January 15, 2023. Tuscaloosa police captain Jack Kennedy had "said the driver of another vehicle, in which Harris was a passenger, approached campus police near Bryant-Denny Stadium at about 1:45 a.m., saying someone had shot into the vehicle, and he fired back." Yahoo! Sports reports, "Harris’ mother has previously told Al.com the shooting happened after she told Miles and Davis she had a boyfriend and was not interested."
Miles was dealing with an ankle injury, and it was announced only a day before that he was to miss the rest of the season with the injury. Miles was removed from the team and from the University of Alabama's campus. Tuscaloosanews.com states, "Davis and Miles have both been charged with capital murder and committed to jail without bond."
On February 21, 2023, new details have come out in a court hearing for the case, this time surrounding Alabama's star player Brandon Miller. According to Tuscaloosa detective Branden Culpepper, Miles had told Davis where the gun was in Miller's car, allowing the shooting to take place. Tuscaloosanews.com explains, "Culpepper testified that Miles gave Davis the gun while the two were in the back seat of Miller's car. According to Culpepper, Miles texted Miller and Miller brought Miles' gun to the scene."
A defense lawyer for Miles would say that Miles reacted in defense when he told Davis where the gun was in the car.
On the topic, Alabama head coach Nate Oats would make a remark that has been seen as tone-deaf. "We knew about that," Oats said. "Can’t control everything everybody does outside of practice. Nobody knew that was going to happen. College kids are out. Brandon hasn’t been in any type of trouble, nor is he in any type of trouble in this case. Just in the wrong spot at the wrong time." This statement has been seen as an attempt to downplay the situation, to attempt to turn eyes from the incident as the Alabama Crimson Tide are ranked #2 in the country for men's college basketball, and Miller is the program's leading scorer and potential NBA lottery pick.
Oats would apologize later for his comments. Jeff Goodman would report via Twitter that Oats stated, “In no way did I intend to downplay the seriousness of the situation of the tragedy of that night.”
Miller has not been charged in the case, and is merely a mention at this point.
Comments