Michael Davis testified that he feared he was about to be killed when he fired into a Jeep near the Strip in Tuscaloosa two years ago.

Testifying in his own defense Friday, Davis told a jury in Tuscaloosa he acted in self-defense because he saw Cedric Johnson had a gun during a dispute between the two.

“I didn’t want my friends to be in danger, so I had to go get him before he got me,” Davis testified.

But Davis didn’t shoot Johnson during the early morning hours of Jan 15, 2023. Instead the fatal shot hit Jamea Harris, Johnson’s 23-year-old girlfriend and mother of his child who was also in the Jeep.

The jury in Tuscaloosa is currently deciding whether to find Davis guilty of capital murder or manslaughter, or whether he acted in self-defense and should go free. Deliberations began at about 3:30 p.m. If a verdict is not reached by 5 p.m., the deliberations will continue Monday.

The prosecution and defense have argued differently as to who shot first: Davis or Johnson. John Robbins, attorney for Davis, has argued that Johnson shot first and Davis returned fire “acting in self-defense” after a dispute. Johnson, and the prosecution, have disputed that in court, saying Davis shot first.

“This was a cold-blooded ambush,” said prosecutor Paula Whitley during closing arguments.

No matter who shot first, it’s undisputed that Davis exchanged gunfire with Johnson on Jan. 15, 2023.

“My client acted reasonable under the circumstances that morning,” Robbins said in his closing arguments.

Davis suffered a gunshot wound to his right shoulder. Johnson was not hit.

The jury had not heard direct testimony from Davis until Friday.

But on Thursday the jury watched video of Davis talking to the police on Jan. 15, 2023, just hours after Harris died. During the interrogation more than two years ago, Davis told an investigator he didn’t remember how he got shot in his right shoulder and “no I wasn’t shooting at nobody.”

Also charged with capital murder is Davis’ friend Darius Miles, who was on the Alabama men’s basketball team at the time. The gun belonged to Miles. Mary Turner, Miles’ attorney, has previously stated in court that Miles provided the gun to Davis for protection. 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.

Read more: Texts between Brandon Miller, Darius Miles before fatal shooting revealed in capital murder trial

The defense decided to put Davis on the stand after Judge Daniel Pruet said he had not heard enough evidence to include self-defense as a possible reason for the jury to find Davis not guilty. Despite objections from prosecutors, Pruet agreed to let the jury consider self-defense after Davis testified.

Davis, Miles and Jaden Bradley, who was also a member of the Alabama men’s basketball team at the time, all left Twelve25 sports bar together on the Strip the night of Jan. 14, 2023. Shortly after, Davis started dancing to the front left of the Jeep parked at the stop sign with its hazard lights flashing.

Davis and Johnson had a confrontation at the Jeep at the intersection of Grace Street and University Boulevard.

About 10 minutes later, when the Jeep that carried Johnson, Harris and her cousin Asia Humphrey, was driving in the direction of Davis with its headlights turned off, Davis took that to mean Johnson was “ready to do a drive-by or shoot me” and “he was coming to kill me or anyone I was with,” Davis testified.

Why was Davis dancing in that moment?

“I was having a good time and there was good music playing,” Davis testified.

Then, Davis said a “a dude” rolled down the window of the Jeep and said something. Testimony and video evidence this week from earlier in the trial have identified that person as Johnson in the backseat.

Davis responded, “What?”

Here’s how the conversation played out from there, according to Davis.

“Brother, they’re good,” Johnson said.

“Bro I don’t want your girl,” Davis replied.

Davis said a couple words were said. Johnson testified earlier in the week that Davis said his name is Buzz and he “whacks people” but Davis testified he did not say that.

Davis did say, however, he called Johnson out to have a fight.

“A fist-fight,” Davis testified. “A regular fight.”

But Davis testified that did not mean with weapons. Though, Davis said he saw Johnson had a gun.

“I had seen him move his arm” to the passenger side of the vehicle, Davis testified. Davis said “yes” when asked if that concerned him.

Bradley and Miles had to pull Davis away from the Jeep, per Bradley‘s testimony earlier in the week. Then they walked to Bradley‘s two-door Dodge Challenger. Miles got in the car with Bradley, but Davis did not.

Bradley testified Davis went back to “look for the Jeep” and that Davis was “worried about the Jeep.”

Davis walked back to Grace Street, where he met up with Skylar Essex, Miles’ girlfriend. She had texted him telling Davis some women were fighting. Davis testified he liked one of them, so he wanted to make sure things were OK.

When he got there, he asked Essex where the Jeep was.

“I was worried,” Davis testified Friday.

Why?

“I had just got into it with the guy and he had a weapon,” Davis said.

Davis said he did not refuse to get into the car with Bradley and Miles. He said there was no room. Davis said he went back to Grace Street because he got that message from Essex.

“I did not go to look for the Jeep,” Davis testified.

The prosecution asked Davis then if that meant Bradley was lying in his testimony that Davis went to look for the Jeep.

“I do not recall that,” Davis testified.

After Davis got the gun shortly after from Miles, Davis went back behind a building.

“I had to go hide before (Johnson) could do anything to me,” Davis testified.

Davis can be seen on video running up from behind the Jeep on Grace Street to the driver’s side window. Davis testified the window was already down when he got there. He also noticed Johnson “had his gun.”

“When I was (going to) shoot my gun, he shot me in my shoulder,” Davis said.

After the shooting, Davis testified Miles and Essex picked him up and they went straight back to the apartment complex where they met up before heading to the Strip.

Davis said he didn’t go look for the police.

“I’m just scared of the police,” Davis said. “I don’t know how Alabama is.”

Davis was also asked what he did with the gun.

“I gave it back to Darius Miles,” Davis said. “I don’t know what he did with the gun. I just gave it to him.”

Police investigator Branden Culpepper testified earlier this week that the gun was found at the apartment where the group went before and after the time on the Strip. The gun was in a closet, in a drawer, wrapped in a Gatorade towel.

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