New Petition Calls For Release Of Former Tide Basketball Player Charged With Capital Murder

TUSCALOOSA, AL — A new online petition is calling for the release of former University of Alabama basketball player Darius Miles, who has remained jailed for more than three years while awaiting trial on a capital murder charge stemming from the 2023 shooting death of a young mother from Birmingham.

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As Patch previously reported, Miles is accused of providing the handgun used by his childhood friend, Michael Lynn Davis, in a shootout on Grace Street in the early morning hours of Jan. 15, 2023 that resulted in the death of 23-year-old Jamea Harris.

Davis was shot twice in the exchange of gunfire with Harris' boyfriend, Cedric Johnson, before allegedly firing a shot through the windshield that killed Harris as she sat in the front passenger seat of her Jeep.

The capital murder cases against the two men have been handled separately in Tuscaloosa County Circuit Court, with Patch reporting in May 2025 when a jury convicted Davis on the charges and sentenced him to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

The Change.org petition, titled “Bring Darius Miles home: End unjust pretrial detention,” was started by Melissa Miles — an aunt of the former Crimson Tide forward — and had collected 568 verified signatures as of the publication of this story, including 490 signatures on Wednesday.

In response to her nephew's extended time in jail without going to trial, Melissa Miles launched the “25 BY 25” campaign, with the goal of collecting 25,000 signatures and securing Miles' release before his 25th birthday on Oct. 6, 2026.

The petition argues that Miles' lengthy incarceration while his case remains unresolved highlights broader concerns surrounding pretrial detention and defendants' right to a timely resolution of criminal charges.

"Darius's prolonged detention is not an isolated incident but a reflection of systemic issues that plague our justice system," Melissa Miles wrote. "It is a stark illustration of the often-criticized inefficiencies and delays that deny individuals their right to a fair and speedy trial. Legal experts and advocates have long pointed to the detrimental impact of extended pretrial detention, which not only affects the individual incarcerated but also their families and communities."

Petition organizers are asking courts and attorneys involved in the case to review the circumstances surrounding Miles' continued incarceration and pursue available legal avenues that could result in his release.

The petition itself has no legal authority to compel Miles' release, but the campaign is intended to generate public support and draw attention to the case.

Miles has been held without bond since his arrest in the early morning hours after the shooting, despite numerous attempts by his legal team to convince the court that he will cooperate and not present a flight risk or safety issue to the public.

Despite the conviction of Davis, defense attorneys have maintained that the circumstances surrounding the confrontation support a claim of self-defense, arguing that Harris' boyfriend was the actual aggressor.

After evidence was presented early on in the case that showed he did not fire the fatal shot that killed Harris, Miles' attorneys have repeatedly sought bond to secure his release while awaiting trial.

An initial request was denied following his 2023 preliminary hearing and subsequent efforts have also been unsuccessful.

The case appeared headed toward trial after jury selection was scheduled to begin Dec. 1, 2025, but proceedings stalled amid an appeal by Miles' legal team seeking a recusal of the judge presiding over the case.

“This has robbed him of crucial years of his life," the petition says, "years that could have been filled with growth, opportunity, and happiness."

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