In a Tuscaloosa courtroom this morning, former Alabama basketball star forward Brandon Miller read through the texts he exchanged with Darius Miles shortly before a deadly shooting on the Strip in 2023.

Miller, now with the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets, testified for the prosecution on Thursday as the latest witness in the capital murder trial for Michael Davis.

Davis was charged alongside former Alabama basketball player Darius Miles with capital murder after Jamea Harris was shot and killed on Jan. 15, 2023 near the Strip in Tuscaloosa.

On the night of the shooting, Miller had dropped Miles off at Twelve25 sports bar then went to Moe’s BBQ instead because the line was too long. Then Miles texted him to ask “how long you going to be there?” That was at 1:19 a.m. on Jan. 15, 2023.

Here’s their text conversation, as shown in court:

Miller at 1:38:30 a.m.: “On my way”

Miles at 1:38:39 a.m.: “I need my joint. A (person) ‘rl jus got da fakin”

Miles also during that minute: “Pull up to (Twelve25).”

Miller at 1:40:13: “Bet”

Miller also during that minute: “On my way”

Miles at 1:40:57 a.m.: “Bet. We at (Jaden Bradley’s) car.”

Miller at 1:42 a.m.: “Bet.”

Fakin’, Miller told the jury, meant threatening.

The defense also asked him “when you received that text message, you knew Darius wanted that gun, it’s because someone is threatening him, right?”

“Correct” Miller answered.

Miller testified Thursday that he did not know Davis was about to shoot somebody with the gun. He also did not have any idea it was about to happen.

Miller also testified he did not know Miles had left the gun in his car until he got to the scene on Grace Street.

John Robbins, attorney for Davis, has argued that Cedric Johnson, Harris’ boyfriend, shot first and Davis returned fire “acting in self-defense” after a dispute. Johnson testified Wednesday that is “incorrect.“ Davis was shot in the shoulder and injured.

Davis fired into the Jeep that carried Johnson, Harris and her cousin Asia Humphrey. Harris died from a gunshot wound to the head.

The gun belonged to Miles. Mary Turner, Miles’ attorney, has previously stated in court that Miles provided the gun to Davis for protection. Miles, who was removed from the basketball team after his arrest, does not have a trial date set.

Miller, who was not charged with a crime, was Miles’ ride that evening to the Strip. But Miller did not go to Twelve25 sports bar with Davis, Miles and former Alabama basketball guard Jaden Bradley.

When Bradley, Davis and Miles left Twelve25, Davis had a confrontation with Johnson at the Jeep. Around that time, Harris slid a gun back to Johnson, he testified. Miles told police two years ago he saw the gun passed back.

Shortly after, Miles texted his teammate, Miller, asking for his “joint” because ‘rl just got da fakin,” per previous court testimony. An investigator testified that meant Miles’ gun, which he had left in the backseat of Miller’s car. Miles’ attorney shared in court previously that “fakin” meant threatening, according to Urban Dictionary.

Attorney Jim Standridge, then representing Miller, said in 2023 that Miller was already on his way to pick up his teammate, Miles, when Miller received the text.

Standridge also said Miller never touched the gun, wasn’t involved in the exchange of it and “never knew that illegal activity involving the gun would occur.”

Later, on Grace Street, Davis retrieved Miles’ gun from the back of the car, per police testimony.

If convicted, Davis faces life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Nick Kelly is an Alabama beat writer for AL.com and the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X and Instagram.