Darius Miles Releases Statement, Maintains Innocence In Fatal Shooting

TUSCALOOSA, AL — Former Alabama basketball player Darius Miles has released a statement through his defense attorneys after he was one of two men arrested and charged for capital murder in the shooting death of a 23-year-old Birmingham woman on Sunday near The Strip in Tuscaloosa.

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The victim was identified as Birmingham native Jamea Jonae Harris, 23. She was not affiliated with the University of Alabama and was pronounced dead when her vehicle was driven to the Walk of Champions at Bryant-Denny Stadium after spotting a University of Alabama Police vehicle.

The shooting is believed to have occurred in the 400 block of Grace Street off of University Boulevard.

Crimson Tide basketball player Darius Miles one of two men charged with capital murder in fatal shooting on The Strip early Sunday morning pic.twitter.com/wBWybat3Ni
— Ryan Phillips (@JournoRyan) January" class="redactor-linkify-object">https://twitter.com/JournoRyan... 15, 2023

"Darius Miles and his family are heartbroken tonight over the death of Jamea Jonae Harris," Miles said in a statement released by his attorney William White. "While Darius has been accused of being involved with this tragedy, he maintains his innocence and looks forward to his day in court. Our firm's own investigation is ongoing, and no further statement will be made at this time."

Miles is represented by the Birmingham law firm Boles Holmes White LLC.

As Patch previously reported, Captain Jack Kennedy, commander of the Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit, told local media during a press conference Sunday evening that Miles — who is from the Washington, D.C. area — and Michael Lynn Davis, 20, from Charles County, Maryland were both charged in connection to the shooting.

"It appears at this time that the shooting was the result of a minor argument that occurred between the victims and suspects after they encountered each other along The Strip," Kennedy said Sunday.

Miles was a member of the University of Alabama basketball team until being removed following his arrest, while Davis was not affiliated with the University of Alabama.

Prior to the shooting, it was announced on Saturday that Miles — a junior forward — would miss the remainder of the season with an ankle injury suffered during the preseason.

Both Miles and Davis are currently being held without bond at the Tuscaloosa County Jail.

Kennedy declined to identify which of the two suspects was shot during the incident. He also explained that the capital charge, which requires an underlying felony or statutory violation, was the result of the two men being suspected of firing into an occupied vehicle.

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