Lawyer for Brandon Miller Disputes Claim Alabama Star Provided Gun in Killing
Editors’ note, Feb. 23, 7 p.m. ET: This story has been updated to correct the attribution of two quotes to Darius Miles, according to police testimony.
A day after police testimony on the ongoing investigation involving former Alabama forward Darius Miles was released—in which it’s alleged that Crimson Tide star Brandon Miller brought the gun Miles used in the killing—Miller’s lawyer released a statement disputing that claim.
In his statement, attorney Jim Standridge stated Miller had no prior knowledge that Miles and 20-year-old Michael “Buzz” Davis—also charged with murder—had been involved in a verbal altercation with 23-year-old victim Jamea Harris or Cedric Johnson, a man she was with at the time.
“Brandon never touched the gun, was not involved in its exchange to Mr. Davis in any way, and never knew that illegal activity involving the gun would occur,” Standridge’s statement read.
Standridge also disputes the claim that Miller parked his car in a manner that blocked the vehicle Harris was in, asserting that Miller had parked his car first when the Jeep driven by Johnson pulled up.
Police testified that Miles contacted Miller asking for a gun, and when Miller arrived at the scene, Miles told Davis, “The heat is in the hat.” Later, police say Miles added that “there’s one in the head,” signaling that the gun was loaded. Miller was not charged in the killing.
Standridge also wrote that all of the events as he described them were captured on video, and that Miller has fully cooperated with authorities during the investigation. He said Miller does not own a firearm and “has never even handled a firearm. Moreover, he had no knowledge of any intent to use any weapon.”
With the Crimson Tide set to face South Carolina tonight in Columbia, Miller is expected to play, Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne said, per ESPN. The freshman is leading the squad with 18.7 points per game this season.
