More than nine months after Jamea Jonae Harris was shot and killed in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, a federal wrongful death lawsuit was filed in her passing against three men including Brandon Miller, formerly of Alabama’s men’s basketball team and current Charlotte Hornet. Harris was killed on Jan. 15, with Darius Miles, who was kicked off the Crimson Tide’s men’s basketball team after the incident, and Michael Davis being the other two individuals the lawsuit was filed against. Davis and Miles are facing capital murder charges, while Miller hasn’t been charged with a crime stemming from Harris’ death.
The lawsuit demands a jury trial to award damages on Harris’ behalf. The plaintiff in the case is Decarla Raietta Heard, Harris’ mother and the representative of her estate. In February, an investigator testified that Miller was at the scene of the shooting. The gun that the police state was used in the shooting was taken from Miller’s car. Miller’s attorney, Jim Standridge, maintains the No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft’s innocence, stating he had no knowledge that the weapon would be used for illegal activity. Miller never missed a game for his role in the incident and led the Crimson Tide to the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament. Alabama lost in the Sweet 16 to San Diego State.