Police testifies Alabama star forward delivered gun used in fatal shooting: report

Alabama freshman basketball player Brandon Miller brought teammate the handgun used to kill a woman, according to Tuscaloosa police.

Detective Branden Culpepper testified Tuesday that Miller delivered Darius Miles’ gun on the night 23-year-old Jamea Jonae Harris was killed on Jan. 15, after Miles texted Miller and asked him to do so, according to an ESPN report.

Culpepper’s allegations came during a preliminary hearing for Miles and Michael Davis, who both face capital murder charges for the death of Harris.

Investigators wrote in a court document that Miles, who has since been removed from the basketball program, admitted to providing the gun used in the fatal shooting, but Davis fired the weapon, according to an ESPN report. Culpepper said Tuesday that Miles told Davis where his gun was located in Miller’s car.

Tuscaloosa chief deputy district attorney Paula Whitley said on Tuesday “there’s nothing we could charge [Miller] with.” Alabama coach Nate Oats said in a news conference that the program had been aware of Miller’s alleged link to the criminal case. Miller has not been charged in the case. The 20-year-old freshman has started in every game since the shooting.

Miles and Davis’ mothers testified that their sons would follow rules if granted bond, but Tuscaloosa County District Judge Joanne E. Jannik denied the request. The case will now be sent to a grand jury.

Last month’s shooting occurred on a business district of bars and restaurants that cater to students near the Tuscaloosa campus, known as the Strip. Harris was sitting in the passenger seat of a car when she was struck by a bullet, police said.

Oats said the “whole situation is sad,” and the program has been “fully cooperating with law enforcement the entire time.”

“We knew about that,” the head coach said when asked about Miller allegedly bringing the gun to Miles. “Can’t control everything anybody does outside of practice. Nobody knew that was going to happen. … Brandon hasn’t been in any type of trouble, nor is he in any type of trouble in this case. Wrong spot at the wrong time.”

After receiving criticism on social media, Oats clarified what he called his “unfortunate remarks.” The head coach acknowledged that his remarks “came across poorly.”

“We were informed by law enforcement of other student-athletes being in the vicinity, and law enforcement has repeatedly told us that no other student-athletes were suspects,” Oats said. “They were witnesses only. Our understanding is that they have all been fully truthful and cooperative.

“In no way did I intend to downplay the seriousness of this situation or the tragedy of that night. My prayers continue to go out to Jamea Harris’s family.”