Lawyer Says Miller Was Unaware Of Any Intent To Use Gun In Shooting

TUSCALOOSA, AL — A day after Alabama forward Brandon Miller's name came out during a preliminary hearing for two men charged with capital murder, his attorney released a two-page statement providing the "facts" around Miller's presence at the scene and perceived involvement that has sparked a public relations firestorm for the university.

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As Patch previously reported, text messages presented during a preliminary hearing on Wednesday show former Alabama basketball player Darius Miles texting Miller and asking him to bring him his handgun. Miller had been Miles' ride that evening and additional messages confirmed that Miller did indeed bring the handgun to where Miles and Michael Davis were in the moments prior to the shooting.

Davis, of Charles County, Maryland and a childhood friend of Miles, was identified by investigators as the suspect believed to have fired the fatal shot that killed Jamea Harris in the early morning hours on Jan. 15 as she sat in the passenger seat of her Jeep on Grace Street near the intersection of University Boulevard.

ALSO READ: Judge Denies Bond For Darius Miles, Michael Davis In Murder Case

"Brandon and his family are horrified and saddened by the events that led to the senseless death of Ms. Harris and continue to offer their most sincere thoughts and prayers for her family," Tuscaloosa attorney Jim Standridge said, before explaining his client's actions the night of the shooting.

Standridge mentioned that Miller had played in Alabama's blowout win of LSU in the hours before the shooting and was later asked by Miles for a ride to The Strip area to go to Club 1225.

He went on to explain that Miles brought his handgun, which is legal without a permit under the new Alabama law that went into effect on Jan. 1. The gun was then left in the back seat of Miller's Dodge Charger, with Standridge claiming that Miller never saw the handgun or handled it.

"Further, it is our understanding that the weapon was concealed under some clothing in the back
seat of his car," he said.

Standridge also explained that Miller did not go inside the nightclub on The Strip with Miles, Davis and Tide basketball player Jaden Bradley, opting instead to leave and go to a nearby restaurant to eat.

"At approximately midnight, Mr. Miles began asking Brandon to come pick him up so that they could leave and go to another location and join friends," he said. "Brandon advised that he would be along later, and, approximately one hour later, Brandon began to leave the restaurant to pick up Mr. Miles, but first had to give another companion a ride home."

Miller's attorney then said the freshman forward arrived to pick up Miles, before Miles and the boyfriend of Harris "apparently exchanged words."

This does not appear to align with the narrative pushed in court that it was Davis who was involved in the verbal altercation with Harris's boyfriend in the moments before the shooting.

What's more, Miles' defense team has claimed that he tried to calm Davis down following the verbal exchange, which reportedly started when Davis asked Harris for her number.

"Without Brandon knowing any of this context, and as Brandon was already on the way to pick up Mr. Miles, Mr. Miles texted Brandon and asked him to bring him his firearm," Standridge said. "Brandon subsequently arrived at the scene to pick up Mr. Miles. Brandon never got out of his vehicle or interacted with anyone in Ms. Harris’ party."

Standridge then named Harris's boyfriend, who shot Davis twice during the altercation, in saying that Miller was never involved in the verbal spat with Cedric Johnson or Davis.

"Brandon never touched the gun, was not involved in its exchange to Mr. Davis in any way, and never knew that illegal activity involving the gun would occur," he said.

A topic of debate in open court that has taken on a life of its own is the accusation that Miller used his vehicle to intentionally block in Harris's Jeep on Grace Street in the moments prior to the shooting — a notion Standridge flatly refuted.

"In fact, Brandon had already parked on Grace Street when the jeep pulled up behind him," he said. "The street was never blocked by Brandon’s vehicle. Gunfire erupted shortly after the Jeep arrived and Brandon’s vehicle was struck by bullets fired from one of the guns. Brandon quickly left the area when gunfire erupted."

Standridge then said soon as Miller was notified that someone had been injured and the police wished to speak with him, he "fully cooperated with law enforcement’s investigation."

Patch reported yesterday that the Tuscaloosa County District Attorney's Office had not charged Miller in connection with the incident.

"There is no dispute about Brandon’s activities during this evening," Standridge said. "Brandon has submitted to multiple interviews to assist law enforcement in further understanding the situation, he has volunteered to have his phone contents extracted as well as that of the contents of his automobile. He will continue to cooperate as any citizen should who has witnessed a serious incident. Brandon does not own a firearm and has never even handled a firearm. Moreover, he had no knowledge of any intent to use any weapon."

Miller is set to play for the Crimson Tide Wednesday night in a road match at South Carolina, with tipoff set for 8 p.m.

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