The Alabama men’s basketball team made headlines on Sunday afternoon for a different reason other than a win or loss on the court. Crimson Tide junior forward Darius Miles was arrested on capital murder charges after 23-year-old Jamea Jonae Harris of Birmingham was shot and killed in the early morning of Jan. 15 , according to the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff’s Office.
Video surfaced where Miles was seen being escorted from a building on campus to the back of a police vehicle. It also shows Miles crying and saying, “I swear. I love you more than you imagine.”
University of Alabama basketball player Darius Miles charged with capital murder in shooting death on the Strip in Tuscaloosa pic.twitter.com/6EWAI9GTS8
— Daily Loud (@DailyLoud) January 15, 2023
Why Was Jamea Jonae Harris Murdered?
Tuscaloosa police and University of Alabama police arrived to the ‘Walk of Champions’ near Bryant-Denny Stadium at approximately 1:45 a.m. on Sunday. The driver of the vehicle told authorities he had only stopped at the ‘Walk of Champions’ for help, but the shooting took place on Grace Street off University Boulevard.
The driver told police that Harris was killed because the suspects fired shots first into his vehicle. The driver also said he returned fire and believed he struck one of the suspects.
The suspect that had been struck was 20-year-old Michael Lynn Davis. He has also been arrested and charged with capital murder.
Witnesses and the victim told police that this started because of a minor altercation that escalated.
Ring camera catches footage of, University of Alabama basketball player Darius Miles arrested for fatal shooting of woman pic.twitter.com/dQN3P22GYe
— OnThaCorner (@onthacorner_) January 16, 2023
A nearby Ring camera did catch the sound of the shooting and bystanders running away from the shots being fired, but you could not determine who the suspects were that did the actual shooting.
“At this time, it appears that the only motive was a minor altercation that these individuals had with the victim as they were out on The Strip,” said Tuscaloosa police captain Jack Kennedy during0 a news conference Sunday evening.
Who is Darius Miles?
Miles, who shares the same name with third-overall pick during the 2000 NBA draft and retired NBA player Darius Miles, is a native of Washington, D.C., and former three-star basketball player who played IMG Academy in the Orlando area. His dad, David Miles, is the head coach of the boys varsity program for Eastern Senior High School in Washington, D.C.
The 6-foot-7 forward had been with the University of Alabama program since 2020. He only averaged 1.5 points per game and 1.5 rebounds per game in just six games this season. He hadn’t appeared in a game for the Crimson Tide since Dec. 20. They ruled him out for the remainder of the season after he suffered an ankle injury for the majority of the year.
The university released a statement confirming that Miles has been dismissed from the program and giving their deepest sympathy to Harris’ loved ones.
“First and foremost, we extend our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of the victim from last night’s incident,” the school said in a statement. “We were made aware of the recent charge against student-athlete Darius Miles, and he is no longer a member of the Alabama men’s basketball team. Athletics, in conjunction with the University, is fully cooperating with this investigation.”
Miles attorney William White also released a statement on behalf of his client.
“Darius Miles and his family are heartbroken tonight over the death of Jamea Jonae Harris. While Darius has been accused of being involved with this tragedy, he maintains his innocence and looks forward to his day in court. Our firm’s own investigation is ongoing, and no further statement will be made at this time,” White said.
