Darius Miles ‘heartbroken’: Alabama basketball player says he is innocent in Tuscaloosa Strip shooting, lawyers say
A University of Alabama basketball player charged with capital murder in the deadly shooting on the Strip in Tuscaloosa is maintaining his innocence, his lawyers said.
“Darius Miles and his family are heartbroken tonight over the death of Jamea Jonae Harris,’’ according to a statement released by his team of lawyers.
“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,’’ the statement read.
Miles is represented by attorneys William White, Clayton Tartt and Suzanne Norman of Boles Holmes White LLC.
Miles, 21, is one of two suspects charged with capital murder in Sunday’s predawn fatal shooting.
It was announced Saturday the junior forward was ruled out for the season due to an ankle injury. Following news of his arrest, UA Athletics announced that Miles was no longer on the team.
Darius Miles and Michael Davis are charged with capital murder in a deadly shooting on the Strip in Tuscaloosa on Jan. 15, 2023. (Tuscaloosa County Jail)
Both Miles, of Washington D.C., and Michael Lynn Davis, 20, of Maryland, are charged in the killing of the 23-year-old Harris, the mother of a young son.
Harris was in Tuscaloosa visiting her cousin and boyfriend for the weekend.
Neither Davis nor Harris was affiliated with the University.
About 1:45 a.m. Sunday, Tuscaloosa police and University of Alabama police were dispatched to the Walk of Champions at Bryant Denny Stadium on a shooting.
A vehicle had stopped there upon sighting a University of Alabama Police vehicle.
Harris was dead inside the vehicle, said Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Capt. Jack Kennedy.
Jamea Jonae Harris, 23, was shot to death on the Strip in Tuscaloosa. She leaves behind a 5-year-old son, Kaine. (Special to AL.com)
The driver, who has not been identified, told police their vehicle had been struck by gunfire.
The driver said he had returned fire in self-defense and may have struck a suspect.
Investigators determined that the shooting happened in the 400 Block of Grace Street off of University Boulevard.
Kennedy said after speaking with multiple witnesses and viewing video surveillance, they identified two suspects.
Both were located and interviewed.
One suspect was found to have indeed been struck by gunfire, Kennedy said, and had a non-life-threatening wound.
“It appears at this time that the shooting was the result of a minor argument that occurred between the victims and suspects after they encountered each other along the strip,’’ Kennedy said.