Miles and Davis were charged with capital murder. A 21-year-old junior forward who watched from the bench in a game earlier on the night of Jan. 14, Miles was promptly fired from the Crimson Tide program.
Alabama coach Nate Oats said Tuesday that Miller had “no type of problem.” He later added that authorities told his show that Miller and other Tide actors who may have been at the scene were considered witnesses and not suspects in the case.
The testimony in the courtroom took place during a bond hearing for Miles and Davis, who reportedly began (via Tuscaloosa station WTUG) to argue with Harris’ boyfriend amid a scene of rejoicing in the early morning hours of January 15. Det. Branden Culpepper reportedly told the court that Miles texted Miller and asked Miller to bring a gun that belonged to Miles (via tuscaloosanews.com).
After Miller got into his car, according to Culpepper’s testimony, Miles and Davis got into the back seat. Miles then reportedly said of the gun, “There’s one in the head,” meaning a bullet was loaded into the chamber.
Culpepper did not immediately respond to a request for comment. His testimony marked the first time another Alabama player has been officially linked to the fatal incident. Investigators also reportedly placed another team member, first-year guard Jaden Bradley, at the scene.
Miller, a 6-foot-9 forward from Tennessee, is averaging a team-high 18.7 points, which also leads the SEC. Some analysts consider him one of the top five potential picks in this year’s NBA Draft, should he choose to turn pro.
At a news conference on Tuesday, Oats told reporters that he and other program officials had “know the situation” regarding the investigation into the shooting.
“We fully cooperated with law enforcement all the time,” he said. “The whole situation is sad.
“I can’t control everything that everybody does outside of practice,” added Oats, who is in his fourth season at Alabama. “Nobody knew this was going to happen. … Brandon didn’t have any type of problem, or any type of problem in this case. Wrong place at the wrong time.
Several hours later, Oats released a statement in which he called his previous comments “unfortunate”.
“I had no intention of minimizing the seriousness of this situation or the tragedy of that night,” he said. said. “My prayers continue to go out to the family of James Harris.”
Oats said his program has been “told by law enforcement that other student-athletes are in the vicinity, and law enforcement has repeatedly told us that no other student-athletes are was suspicious – they were just witnesses”.
“Our understanding,” he added, “is that they have all been entirely truthful and cooperative.”
Miller was rated a five-star prospect after earning national accolades and Tennessee Player of the Year honors in high school and became one of the most heralded recruits Alabama has ever landed. He immediately delivered the hype and recently helped the Crimson Tide reach No. 1 in the Associated Press poll for only the second time in the program’s history.
Miles, who played high school basketball in Washington DC and Maryland before finishing at IMG Academy in Florida, had seen little action this season. He was sidelined with an injury when the shooting happened. In addition to being kicked off the team, Miles was “kicked off campus,” according to a University of Alabama official.
Lawyers representing Miles said last month that he “maintains his innocence”. He was being held without bail at the Tuscaloosa County Jail, where he and Davis will remain for the time being, a judge said Tuesday.
Police say Davis was injured in the shooting when Harris’ boyfriend fired a gun. A lawyer for Davis said in court Tuesday (via WTUG) that his client fought back in self-defense after the boyfriend opened fire first.