The facts of Brandon Miller's actions

[aubiefifty 16,819]

The facts of Brandon Miller's actions on Jan. 15 from video, testimony about fatal shooting

Nick Kelly, The Tuscaloosa News

10–12 minutes

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Former Alabama basketball player Brandon Miller − a projected lottery pick in the June 22 NBA Draft − has not been charged with a crime in the aftermath of the Jan. 15 fatal shooting on the Strip. Instead, he served as a witness. But once his name was brought up in a preliminary bond hearing, Miller became the person talked about most on a national level surrounding the case.

The police investigator testified in the Feb. 21 hearing for Michael Davis and former Alabama basketball player Darius Miles that Miller, the SEC player of the year as a freshman, had been at the scene of the fatal shooting of Jamea Harris, a 23-year-old woman from Birmingham. The police investigator also testified the gun investigators claim was used to kill Harris was retrieved from the back of Miller’s car.

Jim Standridge, Miller's attorney, responded the day after the hearing, stating Miller “had no knowledge of any intent to use any weapon” on Jan. 15 and that Miller never touched the gun, was not involved in its exchange and “never knew that illegal activity involving the gun would occur.”

“Further, it is our understanding that the weapon was concealed under some clothing in the back seat of his car,” Standridge wrote in a statement in February.

Miles was arrested and charged with capital murder alongside Davis, who is not affiliated with UA. Investigators said the gun used to kill Harris belonged to Miles, 21, and that Davis, now 21, pulled the trigger, per court documents. A grand jury indicted Miles and Davis on capital murder charges in March.

As part of an investigation into the events that led to Harris’ death, The Tuscaloosa News has reviewed 205 pages of a transcript from the preliminary hearing and spent dozens of hours examining surveillance video from 12 cameras near the Strip, including Twelve25, the Houndstooth and Publix.

Based on information gathered from those sources, here are the facts we know about Miller's actions on Jan. 15.

BRANDON MILLER: Alabama basketball's Brandon Miller on shooting death: 'Whole situation is just really heartbreaking'

DARIUS MILES: Details from Darius Miles hearing in capital murder case in which he's denied bond

Before the shooting

Miles, Davis and Jaden Bradley, a former Alabama basketball player who transferred to Arizona in the offseason, went into Twelve25, a sports bar, around midnight, but Miller did not. Miller dropped Miles off but didn’t go into Twelve25 because the line was too long, the police investigator testified.

Miller went to a restaurant to eat, his attorney said.

 

The area outside Twelve25 on the Strip in Tuscaloosa where Darius Miles, Jamea Harris, Cedric Johnson and more waited in line in the early hours of Jan. 15. This photo was taken on May 25.

 

While Miles was in Twelve25, he texted Miller: “how long u goin be,” the police investigator testified.

Before picking up Miles, Miller gave another companion a ride home, per Standridge.

At 1:35:52 a.m., Miles left Twelve25, then crossed University Boulevard toward Grace Street. Bradley and Davis also left and walked a few steps behind him. A black four-door Jeep Wrangler, holding Harris, her boyfriend Cedric Johnson and her cousin Asia Humphrey, sat at the stop sign at the end of Grace Street in front of University Boulevard. At that time, Humphrey was the driver, Harris sat in the front passenger seat and Johnson sat in the back left passenger seat.

Miles walked past the Jeep, but Davis did not. He stopped to the front left of it and danced for a few seconds, then approached the back left window, where Johnson sat.

 

The intersection of Grace Street and University Boulevard where the Jeep parked for six minutes across the street from Twelve25. This is where the Jeep sat when Michael Davis approached to talk to them the first time at 1:36 a.m. on Jan. 15. This photo was taken on May 25.

 

According to Johnson's statement to police, these three things happened: Davis was attempting to talk to Harris, but she refused to talk to him; Johnson told Davis that Harris has a boyfriend and to move along; And Davis also asked him if he knew who he was and what he could do to him.

Humphrey, however, testified she didn’t hear any threats, saying all she heard was a statement from Davis: “I don’t want your girl.”

Davis had to be tugged back by Bradley. Miles walked back to the Jeep and stepped between Davis and the vehicle.

Davis and Bradley started to back away at 1:37:20 a.m. as Miles continued to talk to the occupants of the Jeep. At 1:37:22 a.m., Harris can be seen on video handing something from the front passenger seat to the back seat. Johnson told police it was food. Miles told police he saw a gun passed back to Johnson, and he got Davis away because of the gun. Based on surveillance video, the Tuscaloosa News could not determine what the item was.

At 1:37:25 a.m., Miles turned from the window, then he, Davis and Bradley walked down Grace Street away from University Boulevard.

Miller was not present for any of the interaction that occurred at the Jeep, which is confirmed by surveillance video and police investigator testimony.

Miles texts Miller after the exchange at the Jeep

At 1:38 a.m., Miles texted Miller again, asking to bring him his joint, which the police investigator testified meant Miles’ gun. Miles also texted that someone “rl jus got da fakin.”

Mary Turner, Miles’ attorney, explained in court that "fakin" meant threatening, citing Urban Dictionary.

Miller’s attorney said Miller was already on his way to pick up Miles when receiving the text asking for the gun.

Miller arrives on Grace Street

Miller’s Dodge Charger pulled up behind Bradley’s Dodge Challenger on Grace Street, facing University Boulevard, at 1:43:40 a.m.

Miles had already gotten out of Bradley’s car and walked toward Davis and Skylar Essex, who is Miles’ girlfriend; Davis and Essex were closer to University Boulevard.

Surveillance video viewed by The Tuscaloosa News never shows Miller outside of his car, but the police investigator testified he was the driver.

Bradley's car and Miller's car pulled ahead a few car lengths on Grace Street while Miles went to meet up with Essex and Davis. Then they return to the two cars.

At 1:44:17 a.m., Miles left Essex by Bradley’s car as Miles and Davis went to Miller’s car. They opened the back right door of the car and went behind it.

Surveillance video does not show what happened once the car door was open, but the police investigator testified that Miles told the location of the gun to Davis, who grabbed it. The police investigator also testified that Miles acknowledged he and Davis went to Miller's car to get Miles' gun. The police obtained dash-cam footage and audio from Miller's car in a search warrant. The police investigator said that, on the dash-cam footage/audio, Davis did not make any threats about doing harm or shooting or killing anyone in the black Jeep.

Here’s what Miles and Davis said while behind the door, per the police investigator:

“The heat is in the hat,” one said.

“Is there one in the head?” the other replied.

“You know it is,” the other said.

After about eight seconds behind the car door, Davis and Miles walked in different directions.

Davis went between two buildings; Miles walked back to Bradley's car and moved Essex to a side road behind the Houndstooth parking lot. Davis had told Miles to get Essex to go home, the police investigator testified.

Miles then looked into Bradley’s car through the front passenger window.

Meanwhile, Miller moved his car toward the right side of the road to give more room for cars passing on the other side. Bradley had done something similar earlier.

Then, Miles walked back and again looked into Miller’s car at 1:45:17 a.m. The Jeep, headlights off, pulled up behind Miller’s car at 1:45:31 a.m. Next, Miles kept walking, eventually passing the Jeep being driven by Johnson before Miles turned to go between the two buildings where Davis had gone.

Davis emerged from between the two buildings and walked past Miles a few steps off Grace Street. Then Davis jogged onto Grace Street behind the Jeep. By 1:45:37 a.m., Davis reached the driver’s door where Johnson was sitting. Then Davis squared up, raised his arm and a muzzle flash appeared. Surveillance video did not make clear whether that flash came from a gun inside the Jeep or from the gun Davis held. Humphrey testified she doesn’t know who shot first.

 

Michael Davis and Cedric Johnson exchanged fire on the other side of this pole at 1:45:38 a.m. on Jan. 15. Johnson sat in the Jeep facing toward University. This photo was taken on May 25.

 

Shots fired into Miller’s windshield

After Davis and the Jeep exchanged gunfire, Davis stumbled backward into a pole. Then, he got up and continued shooting as he ran across Grace Street in front of Miller’s car as Miller was trying to drive away.

The police investigator testified that two bullets hit Miller’s windshield. At least one Davis fired can be clearly seen hitting the windshield on the passenger side from surveillance video.

Once Davis stopped shooting and broke into a sprint, Miller started driving toward University Boulevard but the right side of the Jeep and the left side of Miller's car bumped each other as the two vehicles kept moving.

At 1:45:57 a.m., the Jeep turned left onto University Boulevard toward the Walk of Champions. At 1:46:00 a.m., Miller’s Charger turned right onto University Boulevard and drove off camera.

Miller’s attorney said as soon as Miller was notified someone had been injured and police wanted to speak with him, Miller cooperated fully with law enforcement's investigation.

"I never lose sight of the fact that a family lost one of their loved ones that night," Miller said March 8 in his first public comments. "This whole situation is just really heartbreaking.”

Nick Kelly covers Alabama football and men's basketball for The Tuscaloosa News/USA TODAY Network. Reach him via email: nkelly@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter: @_NickKelly

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Brandon Miller: Video, testimony facts of actions from fatal shooting

 

before anyone starts in on me i am posting the news and have no agenda ok? thank you

[nurbis 572]

At 1:38 a.m., Miles texted Miller again, asking to bring him his joint, which the police investigator testified meant Miles’ gun. Miles also texted that someone “rl jus got da fakin.”

Mary Turner, Miles’ attorney, explained in court that "fakin" meant threatening, citing Urban Dictionary.

So that was the exchange between Miles and Miller but Miller never knew that Miles and Davis were going to use the gun for illegal activity according to his attorney.

So Miller knew Miles' gun was in his car, so he was illegally in possession of it. He knew based on Miles' text that Miles wanted it because someone was threatening/acting aggressively towards them. But still, Miller had no idea what it would be used for?   

 

[AUBwins 10,075]

 

Charlotte fanbase is pissed, they took Brandon over Scoot.  Many videos out there with the same reaction.

[AUfan_UAgrad 230]

On 6/15/2023 at 10:31 AM, nurbis said:

At 1:38 a.m., Miles texted Miller again, asking to bring him his joint, which the police investigator testified meant Miles’ gun. Miles also texted that someone “rl jus got da fakin.”

Mary Turner, Miles’ attorney, explained in court that "fakin" meant threatening, citing Urban Dictionary.

So that was the exchange between Miles and Miller but Miller never knew that Miles and Davis were going to use the gun for illegal activity according to his attorney.

So Miller knew Miles' gun was in his car, so he was illegally in possession of it. He knew based on Miles' text that Miles wanted it because someone was threatening/acting aggressively towards them. But still, Miller had no idea what it would be used for?   

 

From what is being "claimed" (which is not clear from the above as there is a lot of grey area) is that Miller did not see the text from Miles about brining him his gun and was unaware it was in his car.  The only facts from the above about this part is that Miles texted Miller to bring him his gun (doesn't mean Miller read it).  Miller showed up to the scene, and the gun was removed from his car by Miles and Davis (again doesn't mean Miller knew the gun was in the car and that they removed it).

I have had a few discussions with Bama fans in person and online and that is what they are sticking to......
1. Miller did not see the text to bring the gun.
2. He was unaware there was a gun in his car.
3. He was unaware that it had been removed.
(Of course most of the Bama fans I talked to about it bring up Cam.  Not sure how paying a player is the same as murder but whenever Bama and cheating or something bad comes out most Bama fans are quick to bring up Cam.)

I know I know that is all a bunch of BS.  If Miller was on his way to already pick up Miles and he received a text while going to get him at that hour of the night who in their right mind doesn't read the text.  Also after all he was driving a Charger which I'm pretty sure (sarcasm) notifies him that he has received a text............  Also once Miller arrived on the scene and Miles and Davis open the back door to Millers Charger and remove the gun from the car.  So your friends open the back door of your car and you don't notice them get anything out or question them.......?  I mean come on.........

Not saying that Miller should be charged with murder but just very hard to say he was "in the wrong place at the wrong time".  Just not sure how anyone can claim that he had absolutely ZERO involvement in her death.  And if you believe he had any involvement in a persons death should he really get off scott free with ZERO consequences?   He never even missed a practice let alone even 1 game.  So there is no way to take that other then Nate and Bama believe he had absolutely ZERO involvement.    Which based on the facts they are ignoring common sense......like he didn't see the text......like he didn't know there was a gun in HIS car.....like he didn't realize they opened the back door of his car that he was sitting in the driver's seat of and get a gun out.......
 

Have also had a few Bama fans that are reasonable about it and say Miller should have never have been played until after the investigation was finished.  And also after the investigation was finished should have been kicked off the team, he may not have pulled the trigger but he was involved.  Also that Nate should have been fired for the way he handled the situation.

 

Edited June 23, 2023 by AUfan_UAgrad

[arktiger1975 518]

I think it is crazy that the Hornets took a player with so much baggage at #2. Not to mention Miller's abysmal performance in the NCAA tournament. He has "bust" written all over him. I can see why Charlotte fans are so upset. 

[arktiger1975 518]

https://www.thebiglead.com/posts/brandon-miller-s-nba-career-off-to-a-horrific-start-01h4nsccs6xs

This makes me giggly.