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Wrongful death suit submitted vs
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Chris Low, ESPN Senior Citizen WriterOct 20, 2023, 11:59 AM ET
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- College football press reporter
- Signed up with ESPN.com in 2007
- Graduate of the University of Tennessee
The family of a female killed in a shooting on the Tuscaloosa strip near the University of Alabama campus has filed a federal wrongful death lawsuit versus three men, including previous Alabama star Brandon Miller, who was the No. 2 total choice in the 2023 NBA draft.The other two men named in the problem are former Alabama player Darius Miles and Michael Davis, who are facing capital murder charges in the shooting death of Jamea Jonae Harris, 23, on Jan. 15. Miller was not charged with a crime.The claim was submitted in U.S. District Court
for the Northern District of Alabama Western Department and requires a jury trial to award damages. The complainant, Decarla Raietta Heard, is Harris’mother and the representative of her estate.Harris, accompanied by her sweetheart, were in Tuscaloosa visiting her
cousin when she was shot in the early morning hours of Jan. 15. Editor’s Picks 2 Associated Heard is represented by attorneys Kirby D. Farris and Malia D. Tartt of the
Farris, Riley & Pitt law firm in Birmingham, Alabama. In the lawsuit, they allege Miles, Davis and Miller “understood or must have known that bringing an unsafe weapon to a dispute and discharging said weapon would likely result in damage. “In addition, the grievance declares that”as a direct or near consequence of the carelessness or wantonness of each of the offenders,” Harris was triggered to suffer severe injuries resulting in her death.Miller, a novice with the Charlotte Hornets, signed a contract in July worth$49 million over 4 years. He will make$11 million in the very first year of
the contract.An authorities detective testified throughout a February hearing that Miller had actually been at the scene of the fatal killing which the gun police state was used in the killing
of Harris was obtained from the back of Miller’s car.But Miller’s attorney, Jim Standridge, said Miller had”no understanding of any intent to utilize the weapon”which he never ever touched the gun nor was he involved in its exchange
or did he understand that prohibited activity involving the gun would take place. “Even more, it is our understanding that the weapon was concealed under some clothes in the back seat of his cars and truck,” Standridge wrote in a February statement.Farris informed ESPN that Harris’household needs to know the fact in information about what occurred that night.”They would like to hear testimony from all 3 of the boys included concerning what they did, said and saw
,”Farris said.”The family would like the chance, through their attorneys, to examine
why and how the gun was brought to the scene of a confrontation that led to the death of their child. Once we have had the opportunity to evaluate the evidence in the event, we can make choices about the degree of guilt, if any, of each.”Farris noted that an individual can be responsible in a civil action and not always be guilty of a criminal act. Farris included that his company has actually contacted the attorneys representing Davis
and Miles and has actually also spoken to a lawyer representing the Hornets.”Am I shocked that this suit has been submitted? No,”stated Davis ‘lawyer John Robbins.”I haven’t examined the claim but Michael will take the proper steps to protect himself in this suit as he remains in the criminal case.” Miller had attended to the shooting with press reporters in March, stating, “I never ever lose sight of the truth that a household lost among their loved ones that night. This entire scenario is simply truly heartbreaking.”
ESPN’s Liz Merrill added to this report.