Amanda Knapp
Brandon Miller was a star basketball player for the University of Alabama and a likely NBA lottery pick. However, in January 2023, he became embroiled in a tragic controversy when he was linked to the fatal shooting of 23-year-old Jamea Jonae Harris in Tuscaloosa. While Miller was not charged with a crime, a police investigation revealed that he was at the scene of the shooting and that the gun used in the killing was retrieved from his car. This led to a federal wrongful death lawsuit being filed against Miller and two other men by Harris's mother, seeking a jury trial and potential damages.
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What You'll Learn
Brandon Miller's involvement in a fatal shooting
Brandon Miller, a former University of Alabama basketball player, was allegedly involved in a fatal shooting that took place on January 15. Miller was identified as being at the scene of the crime, and the gun used in the shooting was retrieved from the back of his car. However, Miller's attorney stated that Miller had no knowledge of any intent to use the weapon and that he did not touch the gun or participate in its exchange.
The shooting resulted in the death of 23-year-old Jamea Jonae Harris, who was accompanied by her boyfriend and visiting her cousin near the University of Alabama campus. A police officer testified that Miller had brought the firearm to his teammate, Darius Miles, who is one of the individuals facing capital murder charges, along with Miles' friend, Michael Davis.
Miller's involvement in the incident was addressed by Alabama coach Nate Oats, who claimed that Miller was in the ""wrong spot at the wrong time." Oats faced backlash for his comments and later issued an apology, acknowledging that his initial statements were insensitive. Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne also stated that conversations were held about the situation, and the decision was made for Miller to maintain his playing eligibility.
In October, a wrongful death lawsuit was filed by Harris' mother, Decarla Raietta Heard, against Miller, Miles, and Davis. The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama Western Division, and it seeks a jury trial and potential damages. While Miller was not charged with a crime, the lawsuit alleges that he and the other defendants were negligent and should have known that bringing a weapon to a dispute could result in harm.
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Miller's connection to the victim, Jamea Jonae Harris
Brandon Miller, a former Alabama basketball player, has been named a co-defendant in a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of Jamea Jonae Harris. Harris was killed in a shooting on January 15, 2023, in Tuscaloosa, and the lawsuit alleges that Miller's actions contributed to the fatal incident.
Miles texted Miller, asking him to bring his gun, which investigators claim was retrieved from the back of Miller's car. Miller brought the gun to the scene and gave it to Miles. However, it was Davis who fired the deadly shots, resulting in Harris's death. Miles admitted to providing Davis with the gun, and investigators testified that the gun belonged to Miles.
The lawsuit filed by Harris's family alleges that Miller's actions caused or contributed to the dangerous situation that ultimately led to Harris's death. While Miller has not been charged criminally, the civil lawsuit seeks to hold him accountable for his role in the incident.
The specific nature of Miller's connection to Harris beyond this incident is not clear, but the tragic event has sparked controversy and led to a wrongful death lawsuit against Miller and the other involved parties.
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The role of teammate Darius Miles in the shooting
On January 15, 2023, 23-year-old Jamea Harris was killed in a shooting in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Former Alabama basketball player Darius Miles and his childhood friend Michael Lynn Davis were arrested and charged with capital murder. Miles was also accused of "aiding and abetting".
Brandon Miller, a former teammate of Miles and a current player for the NBA's Charlotte Hornets, testified for the prosecution in the capital murder trial. Miller was not charged with a crime and was not accused of any wrongdoing in the shooting investigation. He testified that he did not know that Miles had put a gun in his car and that he did not know who was threatening Miles. Miller's dashcam footage showed that he pulled up with his Dodge Charger on Grace Street minutes before the shooting, parking behind teammate Jaden Bradley. He also testified that there was no discussion about blocking the Jeep carrying Harris, her boyfriend Cedric Johnson, and her cousin Asia Humphrey so that Davis could shoot someone.
In the half-hour leading up to the shooting, Miller and Miles exchanged text messages. Miles asked Miller, "how long you going to be there?" at 1:19 a.m. after Miller dropped him off at a club. As Miller was on his way back to pick up Miles, Miles texted him, requesting that he bring his gun.
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Alabama coach Nate Oats' response to the incident
Alabama men's basketball coach Nate Oats initially responded to Brandon Miller's connection to the fatal shooting by saying that he knew about Miller's involvement. He added that they "can't control everything everybody does outside of practice" and that Miller was "not in any trouble [...] Wrong spot at the wrong time". This response was criticised by some as "tone-deaf" and "insensitive".
Following this backlash, Oats issued an apology, saying that he had made a ""poor choice of words" and that he "didn't have the details from the hearing that morning". He clarified that he didn't intend to "downplay the seriousness of the situation or the tragedy of that night", and that his ""prayers continue to go out to Jamea Harris's family".
Oats also emphasised that the decision to allow Miller to continue playing was made collectively by the athletic director, the university administration, and the university's legal counsel.
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The wrongful death lawsuit filed against Miller
On January 15, 2023, 23-year-old Jamea Jonae Harris was fatally shot near the University of Alabama. A police officer testified that Brandon Miller brought a firearm to his teammate Darius Miles, which was used in the shooting. While Miles and his friend Michael Davis faced capital murder charges, Miller was not charged with a crime. However, a police investigator testified that Miller was at the scene and that the murder weapon was retrieved from the back of his car.
In October 2023, Harris' mother, Decarla Raietta Heard, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Miller, Miles, and Davis. The lawsuit alleged that the defendants "knew or should have known that bringing a dangerous weapon to a dispute and discharging said weapon would likely result in harm." Harris' estate, represented by Heard, sought a jury trial and potential damages.
Miller's attorneys filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing that Miller did not own, load, or fire the gun, and did not hand it to the shooter. However, this motion was denied by a former judge, who wrote that a reasonable juror "could conclude it was foreseeable that someone might use the firearm to hurt someone else."
The lawsuit ended in a settlement, with all parties agreeing to drop the case with prejudice. A trust fund was set up to benefit Harris' child, and the court ordered the dismissal and approved the trust.
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Frequently asked questions
In January 2023, Brandon Miller, a freshman at the University of Alabama, became embroiled in a fatal shooting controversy. Miller was allegedly involved in the murder of 23-year-old Jamea Jonae Harris, who was killed in a shooting near the University of Alabama campus. While Miller was not charged with a crime, he faced scrutiny for his connection to the incident.
No, the University of Alabama did not discipline Miller. Alabama coach Nate Oats stated that Miller was in the wrong spot at the wrong time and emphasized that Miller was not in any trouble. Oats later apologized for his insensitive comments. The university's athletic director, Greg Byrne, maintained that Miller was en route to pick up his teammate, Darius Miles, when the incident occurred.
Miller was not charged with a crime related to the shooting. However, he faced a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of Jamea Jonae Harris, the victim. The lawsuit alleged negligence and wantonness, claiming that Miller and the other defendants knew or should have known the potential consequences of bringing a weapon to a dispute.
I cannot find specific information on the outcome of the wrongful death lawsuit. However, Miller continued his basketball career and was selected by the Charlotte Hornets in the 2023 NBA draft. Miller signed a four-year, $49 million contract with the Hornets and made his NBA debut in October 2023.
