Alabama standout freshman forward Brandon Miller, a likely first team All American and projected to be selected in the top five of the NBA Draft, owned the gun used in a shooting near the Tuscaloosa campus that killed Jamea Harris, a 23-year- old mother Jan. 15 and that led to capital murder charges against a former teammate Darius Miles and 20-year- old Michael “Buzz” Davis, according to testimony law enforcement testimony today.
Miles texted Miller to bring his gun to where they were, according to police.
Two vehicles- a Dodge Charger and a Dodge Challenger that belonged to Miller and another player Jaden Bradley– were both at the scene. Miles and Davis walked to Miller’s car and got something — believed to be a gun– out of the back seat.
Miles told Davis, “The heat is in the hat,” Detective Brandon Culpepper said that meant there was a gun present.
Miles added, “There’s one in the head,” Culpepper said that meant there’s a live round in the chamber.
Miles moved his girlfriend back to get her out of the line of fire, Culpepper added.
The shooting took place after Davis and Miles got involved in an argument with the boyfriend of the victim while he was celebrating a his team’s win over LSU at a club in the early morning hours. Miles texted Miller to bring him a gun if the disagreement turned to violence. Miller handed him a .40 caliber handgun from the back of the Charger. Shortly thereafter, Davis fired into the Jeep where Harris and her companions were sitting. Culpepper said video evidence, forensic evidence and witness testimony all corroborate the narrative that Davis fired first. Harris was struck and killed, and the driver returned fire with a weapon of his own and struck Davis in the shoulder, Culpepper said. Davis was still wearing a sling for the injury in court.
Miller may have known something was about to go down. He also eluded injury when s windshield was struck twice by gun fire during the shooting, police testified.
Miles was removed from the team after he was arrested. Davis is accused of shooting Harris while Miles has admitted in court records to giving Davis the gun for the shooting.
Police discovered Harris’ body inside a car near the Walk of Champions by Bryant-Denny Stadium. She was allegedly driven there by her boyfriend after the shooting.
Basketball is operating in a violent, uncontrolled world today.
In some states, Miller’s actions would lead to charges of accessory to murder. But apparently not in Alabama, where wild west rules apply, and coaches look the other way when their best player is involved. Miller has not been charged with a crime for allegedly bringing Miles the gun. The Tuscaloosa police chief and deputy DA Paula Whitney said Miller wasn’t facing charges because “there’s nothing we could charge him with according to the law.”
Miller has played in all 27 of Alabama’s games and is the team’s leading scorer with 19 points a game.
Perhaps one of the worst parts of this fatal incident was the response from Alabama head coach Nate Oats, who admitted knowing about Miller’s involvement but tried to minimize it. “It’s sad,” Oats said. We knew about that– can’t control everything anybody does outside of practice. Nobody knew that as going to happen. College kids are out. Brandon hasn’t been in any type of trouble nor is he is any type of trouble in this case. Wrong spot at the wrong time.”
What? The tone and content of this answer is almost incomprehensible. This is not a kids will be kids’ moment. This is coach speak for he’s my best player, so I’ll sweep it under the rug to protect the money. Forget about the fact a child is without a mother.
If winning at all costs was not a directive, the President and AD should suspend Miller for his actions and Oats for his inappropriate, insensitive comments, but the Crimson Tide have a chance to win a national championship, so the beat goes on. Miller may face the court of public opinion whenever Alabama goes on the road the rest of the year, though in social media driven world spilt milk is soon forgotten. It is now for NBA GMs to question his character and if the risk is worth the reward investing in their team’s future through him.
