Family Of Alabama Basketball Walk-On Threatens Litigation Over New York Times Story

TUSCALOOSA, AL — An attorney representing a walk-on Alabama basketball player appears to be pursuing litigation against the New York Times following a story published Wednesday evening that alleged the freshman was a fourth Alabama basketball player present during a January shooting that left a Birmingham woman dead and an Alabama basketball player charged with capital murder.

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As Patch previously reported, the story cited anonymous sources in a report claiming that freshman guard Kai Spears — the son of Marshall University Athletic Director Christian Spears — was in the car with star forward Brandon Miller in the early morning hours of Jan. 15.

During the shooting on Grace Street, as Patch reported in February, Miller's car was struck twice and 23-year-old Jamea Harris was killed, resulting in Maryland native Michael Davis and former Alabama basketball player Darius Miles being charged and subsequently indicted for capital murder. Both men were denied bond and remain in jail.

Following the report, the University of Alabama issued a statement squarely denying the facts of the story, saying: "Your story is inaccurate. Based on the information we have, there were no current student-athletes present at the scene other than Brandon Miller and Jaden Bradley, who are both fully cooperating witnesses. From the outset, UA Athletics has fully cooperated with law enforcement and supported their investigation.”

West Virginia attorney Stephen New released a statement after Kai Spears and his father issued separate comments earlier in the day Thursday, calling the story demonstrably false and saying the freshman was not in the vicinity at the time in question.

"This irresponsible journalism has harmed Kai and his family, as well as the University of Alabama and Marshall University," New said in a press release. "I have reached out to General Counsel for the New York Times, with no response."

Christian Spears said he was furious after erroneous article and those that followed mentioning his son was in the car with Miller at the time of the shooting.

"It is absolutely false; Kai was not there," he said. "I am grateful to the people who are supporting our family. We all must hold irresponsible journalists and their publications accountable."

New then said the Spears family is exploring all possible legal options against the New York Times.

As Patch previously reported, Kai Spears also posted a statement to his Instagram in the wake of the report and the university's response.

"I have one thing to say — the report in the New York Times was 100% inaccurate and the writer had complete disregard for the truth," he said. "I am trying to process and cope with these false statements that somehow have been published and then seen by so many."

Ryan Phillips is an award-winning journalist, editor and opinion columnist. He is also the founder and field editor of Tuscaloosa Patch. The views expressed in this column are his own and in no way reflective of any views held by our parent company or sponsors.