Alabama freshman walk-on also at scene of January shooting, per report
Alabama basketball is preparing to start its NCAA Tournament journey, but more details from January’s fatal shooting that took the life of Jamea Harris have come to light.
According to a Wednesday report from Billy Witz with The New York Times, freshman walk-on Kai Spears was also present in Brandon Miller’s car at the time of the shooting. That car was struck with bullets but neither player was struck. Spears’ presence at the scene had not been previously reported.
“I’m sorry, I’m not going to be able to speak about that,” Spears said when asked about the report Wednesday night, per Witz.
An Alabama spokesperson said in a statement to AL.com the NYT story is inaccurate.
“Based on the information we have, there were no current student-athletes present at the scene other than Brandon Miller and Jaden Bradley, who are both fully cooperating witnesses,” the UA spokesperson said. “From the outset, UA Athletics has fully cooperated with law enforcement and supported their investigation.”
Alabama and head coach Nate Oats have been criticized for their handling of the situation and playing Brandon Miller despite Miller’s alleged involved that night. Oats revealed Wednesday that Miller is being accompanied by a security guard during the NCAA Tournament due to messages and online threats directed at Miller.
“ Oats revealed Wednesday that Miller is being accompanied by a security guard during the NCAA Tournament due to messages and online threats directed at Miller.”
Wow. Hopefully nobody gives any of those folks a pistol
BooHoo Bama players only target women… First Burton, now these clowns….
college sports are not as bulletproof as the media dismisses through omission. Gambling, gangs, gun murders, drugs, attitudes, things that coaches, ADs. college presidents FAIL to say are loud and clear! Money is more important than institutional public image and this couldn’t be further from the truth, the NCAA can learn the hard way also. And in my opinion will learn the hard way, in a BIG way!
Oats is a great coach (on the court) but a terrible liar.
Team members leaving the scene of a fatal shooting? Classy.
Per the New York Times:
“In a surveillance video…Bradley, the freshman from Rochester, N.Y., peels out and turns onto University Avenue.”
If you think about it, there’s only fight or flight. I’d be amazed if any bystander would run up to grab either shooter. That would leave one shooter still shooting. So, given that, flight is by feet or car. I don’t blame Bradley at all for getting away. The question is always does he return and co-operate once police arrive and secure the scene.
Just a week away from finding out Oats was there too….
“I was there but I was inside ordering some wings and a Miller Lite. They can’t charge me with anything and we have fully cooperated.”
“Based on the information we have, there were no current student-athletes present at the scene other than Brandon Miller and Jaden Bradley, who are both fully cooperating witnesses,” the UA spokesperson said. “ -Lies and more lies. Just tell the truth bama!
It’s way past time for Bama to come clean in this mess. But they won’t, it’s apparently anything goes as long as they win! Sad.
Hopefully karma gets them and they are bounced in the first or second round.
Clean house and start over fresh after the tournament, no matter the result.
The New York Times just radiates clown energy lol
“whatever gets clicks”
-new york times
So you don’t think Miller should have missed any playing time for taking a gun to a guy used to kill someone?
He should have been kicked off the team!
Win at all costs, that’s the bama way.
I’ve read a timeline on what happened. I think it boils down to the text message that hit Miller’s inbox five minutes before he pulled up behind the club. Did Miller read it before getting there? Did Miller’s unnamed passenger read it? Did Miller know a gun was in the backseat the whole time? If Miller read the text AND knew there was a gun in the backseat, THAT would be VERY damaging information. The factors are Miller’s phone records (can they determine when a text is read) and what the unnamed passenger in Miller’s car observed Miller do and say. Did Miller appear to read a text? Did he tell his unnamed passenger, “I’ve got to get this gun to Miles.” For me, I can’t assume someone read a text in five minutes while they were operating a car simply because the text was received. Alabama has a no text and drive law.
Again, it is only damaging to Miller if he had PRIOR knowledge of Miles’ intent. From what we have heard from the police, Miller only received the “I need a ride” and “I need my joint” messages. He was not with them when the initial altercation occurred. Bringing a legal firearm to the legal firearm owner with no knowledge of any ill intent has no consequences under the law. Hence the DA saying, “There is nothing we could charge him with”.
I agree that the accuracy of this report has yet to be verified. However if it is true this is not a good look in a situation that already looks awful.
It’s not accurate.
source?
So many comments and opinions on this situation based off of ignorance. Nobody wants to have an informed opinion on anything anymore. People do zero research into their opinions. Typical moronic and simple minded behavior.
Someone could write an article that states that Paul Harvey was on the scene. Then I could make an article about that article. My headline would be “Paul Harvey also at the scene of January shooting, per report”. Our headlines are Factually the same.
At this point, I’m wondering who on the team wasn’t there!
What are the chances that this story fully unfolds come April/May? It’s mid-March and it’s just being reported another player was at the scene. I’m posing this question without knowing how factual these reports actually are. This could cost Oats his job if this entire thing winds up going south for those players “allegedly” involved after the season.
None of the reporting from day one to now was true or factual. Don’t believe any of what you read and only about half of what you see.
This article is inaccurate and the headline is absolutely false. It is disgusting what the media is trying to do with this entire tragic situation.
Kai Spears and his father, AD of Marshall, have since spoken out to say this is abhorrently false and that they may take legal action against the NYT for their false reporting.
maybe they are full of it
Well the Spears family has hired an attorney and reached out to the General Counsel of the NYT. They refute everything and say they have proof and substantial evidence to show he wasn’t in the car or anywhere near the vicinity of the incident that night.
I don’t blame them. This is a disgusting and harmful article.
Accused guy hires a lawyer? You don’t say
Turns out none of the reporting on any of this is actually what happened. Funny isn’t it. Defense team now knows first shot fired came from in the car. Self defense.