KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE - FEBRUARY 15: Brandon Miller #24 of the Alabama Crimson Tide stands on the court during warm ups before their game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Thompson-Boling Arena on February 15, 2023 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images)
The parents of Jamea Jonae Harris —the 23-year-old woman who was killed in a shooting last month— slammed the University of Alabama Crimson Tide’s basketball program after testimony confirmed that the freshman forward is responsible for delivering the gun to their daughter’s killer and is still allowed to play.
Harris’s mother, DeCarla Cotton, told USA Today it is “unimaginable” that Alabama forward Brandon Miller was allowed to play in Wednesday’s game against South Carolina.
Their 78-76 overtime win, where Miller scored a career-high 41 points, occurred just a day after police testified that Miller had delivered the firearm used to kill her daughter in the fatal Jan. 15 shooting.
“It’s just unimaginable, and it’s like his life is just going on,’’ Cotton told the outlet on Thursday. “He took a brief pause and it didn’t stop. It’s like, OK, slap on the wrist and go play ball.
Cotton lambasted Alabama for worrying more about Miller’s career than the death of Harris, who leaves behind a 5-year-old son.
“They’re worried about his career, but what about this this 5-year-old boy [Harris’ son, Kaine]? He’s the true victim in all this. He won’t have a mother anymore to influence his growing up and who he’s going to be.’’
Miller is projected to be a first-round pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, and is No. 2 Alabama’s leading scorer, according to the outlet.
A day prior to Wednesday’s game, police testified in a preliminary hearing in Tuscaloosa that Miller was responsible for purchasing the gun which was used during the fatal shooting at the Walk of Champions at Bryant Denny Stadium last month.
Darius Miles, Miller’s ex-teammate, and Michael “Buzz” Davis, the man accused of firing the gun and killing Harris, were each charged with capital murder during Tuesday’s court hearing.`Both are being held without bond.
Court documents obtained by CNN show the judge ruled that there was “sufficient evidence… to establish probable cause” in sending both cases to a grand jury.
Miller has not been charged as of this article’s publication.
On Tuesday, a police officer testified that Miles had texted Miller to bring the former’s gun to the location of the shooting.
AL.com reports that Miles had contacted Miller and asked him to bring his gun to the scene, and when Miller arrived, Miles informed Davis that “the heat is in the hat,” indicating that a gun was present. Miles also mentioned that “there’s one in the head,” which meant that a round was in the chamber.
Miles, a junior forward, was dismissed from the Crimson Tide following his arrest. His season had already been cut short due to an ankle injury, having last played Dec. 20.
On Wednesday Miller’s lawyer, Jim Standridge, told the court that his client “never touched the gun, was not involved in its exchange to Mr. Davis in any way, and never knew that illegal activity involving the gun would occur.”
His attorneys allege that Miller’s was not aware of the gun in his car.
“When somebody says bring a gun to them, what do you think they’re going to do with it?” Cotton said about Miller’s alleged involvement. “And if there was no gun, she would not be dead.”
Meanwhile, Harris’ mother said that Alabama coach Nate Oats has been “god awful” in handling the situation.
On Tuesday, Oats defended Miller, describing Miller as being at the “wrong spot at the wrong time.”
“Brandon hasn’t been in any type of trouble, nor is he in any type of trouble on this case. Wrong spot at the wrong time.”
Oats has since apologized and retracted the comment, however Harris’ stepfather, Delvin Heard said the coach’s second statement “meant nothing” to the victim’s family.
This is an ongoing story. Check in with The Shade Room for further developments.
