A key witness, testifying in public for the first time, told a jury his version of what happened on the night Jamea Harris was shot and killed near the Strip in Tuscaloosa.

Harris’ boyfriend Cedric Johnson testified that Michael “Buzz” Davis threatened him just before the shooting on Jan. 15, 2023. Davis is on trial this week for capital murder.

“He was real aggressive in the sense he wanted to fight,” Johnson told the jury today in a courtroom in downtown Tuscaloosa.

“After he said he whacks folks, Jamea slid me my gun.”

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

Davis is the first person to go on trial for the deadly shooting. Judge Daniel Pruet is presiding in Tuscaloosa County Circuit Court.

Also charged with capital murder is Davis’ friend Darius Miles, who was on the Alabama men’s basketball team at the time. Davis was not affiliated with the team.

Miles, who was removed from the team after his arrest, does not yet have a trial date set.

John Robbins, attorney for Davis, has argued that Johnson shot first and Davis returned fire “acting in self-defense” after a dispute. Davis was shot in the shoulder and injured.

The gun belonged to Miles. Mary Turner, Miles’ attorney, has previously stated in court that Miles provided the gun to Davis for protection.

Johnson’s testimony spanned most of the morning during the third day of the trial. He is a key witness who had not previously testified in any pre-trial hearing.

Davis approached the Jeep that held Johnson, Harris and Humphrey when it sat at the intersection of Grace Street and University Boulevard. First Davis danced to the front left of it, then he can be seen on video walking toward the rear side window on the driver’s side.

Here’s how the interaction played out, per Johnson’s testimony.

Johnson: “They good.”

Davis: “What?”

Johnson testified that he told Davis that’s his baby mama, referring to Harris in the front passenger seat.

Davis: “What does that mean?”

Johnson: “That means I guess keep walking.”

Johnson said that Davis then asked if Johnson knew who he was. Johnson said Davis explained that he’s Buzz and he “whacks people.” Shortly after, Harris passed a gun to Johnson, who was sitting in the backseat.

Johnson testified that he did not threaten Davis in that moment.

Davis, Miles and Jaden Bradley, a former Alabama basketball player who was with them on the Strip that night and has not been charged with a crime or accused of any wrongdoing, walked away from the Jeep. Johnson testified how Miles pulled Johnson away from the vehicle.

Johnson was also asked about him turning off the Jeep’s headlights a few minutes later when he was driving.

“I didn’t know the lights had cut off,” Johnson told the jury.

Johnson answered “no” when he was asked if he cut the lights out to “sneak around to look for these guys,” referring to Davis and his party.

Johnson also said “no” when asked if at any time he was looking for Davis or any of his friends.

Under questioning by the defense, Johnson said Davis was “talking in an aggressive way” to him at the window of the Jeep at the intersection of University and Grace.

Humphrey, who was in the front seat during the interaction, had testified earlier in court in 2023 that Davis in the interaction with Johnson said “I don’t want your girl.” Johnson on Wednesday testified: “No he did not tell me that.”

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