Brandon Miller affirms he was nearly shot in ’23

• Michael RothsteinMay 8, 2025, 03:15 PM ET Close Michael Rothstein is a reporter for NFL Country at ESPN. Rothstein covers the Atlanta Falcons. You can follow him via Twitter @MikeRothstein.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala.– Former Alabama men’s basketball player Brandon Miller affirmed Thursday that he was practically struck by bullets fired into his car throughout a January 2023 shooting that killed Jamea Harris near The Strip in Tuscaloosa.Miller, now a player

for the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets, looked like a prosecution witness in the capital murder trial of Michael Lynn Davis, who is accused of fatally shooting Harris, a 23-year-old Birmingham woman, early the early morning of Jan. 15, 2023.

Davis and Darius Miles, Miller’s former Alabama colleague, were jailed and arraigned in the killing. Miles was charged with “assisting and abetting” Davis by supplying the gun, according to the charge sheet.Editor’s Picks

1 Associated Using a black match with a white button-down shirt, Miller, 22, affirmed for nearly 90 minutes in front of a crowded courtroom about his participation and recollections. It’s the first time Miller has spoken openly at length about the night of the shooting.Miller, who has not been implicated of misbehavior, had actually driven the gun to the scene where it was taken out of the car by Miles and Davis. Miller’s name was very first mentioned in connection with the case in a February 2023 hearing, when an authorities investigator affirmed that Miller drove his Dodge Battery charger, which had Miles ‘weapon in the rear seats, to The Strip that night and that Miles had texted Miller to do so.On Thursday, Miller was asked by Chief Assistant District Attorney Paula

Whitley whether he had been offered anything in exchange for not being charged with a criminal activity in this case. Miller affirmed:”No promises. Just being cooperative. “In June 2023, months after the shooting, the Hornets selected Miller as the No. 2 choice in the NBA

draft.Miller had been with Davis, Miles and Jaden Bradley at a home on the night of Jan. 14, 2023, when the four chose to go to the Twelve25 Sports Bar on The Strip. When they got here, Miller left because the line was too long. Rather, he went to Moe’s, a different establishment in downtown Tuscaloosa less than a mile away.Whitley went through a series of text between Miller and Miles. Simply after 1 a.m., Miles texted Miller to choose him up, to which Miller replied,”most likely gon na be a minute “at 1:06 a.m. Thirteen minutes later on, Miles asked,”how long you gon na be?”Miller then told Miles to get a ride with Bradley. Almost a half-hour later, Miller texted Miles to tell him he was on his way.Miller stated Miles then texted him while Miller was driving,

saying,”I require my joint. … RL [real life] jus got da fakin ‘.”Miller described that Miles was informing him he needed his gun (joint)because somebody was”putting on a front “( fakin ‘). Miles texted Miller to initially choose him up at Twelve25 and later at Bradley’s car.Miller testified under cross-examination from defense counsel John Robbins that he analyzed “fakin'” as someone threatening or “trying to scare “Miles. Miller affirmed that Miles did not inform him the precise reason he needed his weapon and that Miles did not tell him he was going to offer it to Davis or that it would be used.Prosecutors played dashcam footage from Miller’s automobile, with Miller and previous basketball supervisor Cooper Lee inside and where audio could be heard and road-facing video seen. When Miller got here, he brought up behind Bradley’s Dodge Opposition. Both Miller’s and Bradley’s automobiles were managed to the best side of Grace Street to attempt to enable cars to pass.Miles and Davis approached Miller’s car. Davis is heard asking, “Is there one in the head?”– significance, Is the gun filled?– and Miles responding, “You know it is.”Miller affirmed that he was unaware of what will occur and that he did not speak to Miles or Davis when he showed up on Grace Street.Miller had not existed when Davis and Cedric Johnson, Harris’ partner, entered a brief discussion outside Harris’black Jeep. Davis was outdoors. Johnson beinged in the back seat of the Jeep. Bradley and Miles pulled Davis away to defuse the discussion, which Bradley testified to on Wednesday. Bradley affirmed that he didn’t hear Johnson or Davis make any risks.

Throughout the trial, witnesses have actually been asked what they heard Davis and Johnson state to each other before the shooting and have offered numerous responses.Miller testified that he did not see the black Jeep before the shooting. Video revealed Miller driving by it when the Jeep’s were lights off. On Wednesday, Johnson affirmed that by this time he had actually been driving the Jeep which he was not aware the Jeep’s lights were off.Dashcam footage revealed Miller and Lee discussing what Miles and Davis may have depended on after they left the cars and truck. As they talked, shots were heard.

Davis was then seen on the video in front of Miller’s cars and truck. Davis shot 2 bullets into Miller’s vehicle– striking the windshield and nearly striking Miller– while running away. Either Miller or Lee is heard saying,” Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God.” As Miller sped away, either Miller or Lee is heard on the dashcam stating, “We almost simply got eliminated”and asking,”What the f– just happened?”When Miller pulled over after driving away, he was concerned about his automobile. He affirmed he was uninformed that Harris, who was sitting in her Jeep, had been shot once in the chin simply listed below her lip, the bullet going through her neck, killing her.He testified that he went to police with his attorney not long after the shooting and

spoke with authorities investigators twice.Miller previously decreased to discuss events the night of the shooting. His attorney at the time, James Standridge, stated Miller totally worked together with police and in a February 2023 declaration stated Miller never ever touched or saw the weapon. In Miller’s only public remarks about the shooting before Thursday, he called the circumstance “really heartbreaking” in March 2023. Miller is among four

former members of the Alabama men’s basketball program who appeared on the pretrial potential witness list in the case.

Bradley, who transferred to Arizona in 2023 and is now the Wildcats’ point guard, testified Wednesday. It’s not clear whether former player Nick Pringle or Lee will be called. The trial started with jury choice Monday.Miller testified that he understood Davis”since I got to Bama,”satisfying him through Miles, which Davis was frequently around the basketball group, including in the locker

room with Miles and in some cases at open practices.Miles’trial date has actually not been set. His lawyer, Mary Turner, or a member of her team has remained in the courtroom each day of Davis’trial.Circuit Court Judge Daniel F. Pruet is presiding at the Tuscaloosa County Courthouse. If convicted, Davis might deal with life in prison. It is considered a capital murder case in Alabama since Harris was inside an automobile when she was shot.

Prosecutors chose not to look for the death penalty.Miller played one season for the Crimson Tide in 2022-23 before being selected by the Hornets. He suffered a season-ending wrist injury in January.