Michael Lynn Davis, the other individual arrested and charged with capital murder alongside former Alabama basketball player Darius Miles, had a statement released on his behalf by his attorney, John Robbins. The attorney said Davis is “not the bad guy” in the shooting death of Jamea Jonae Harris on Sunday morning on The Strip in Tuscaloosa.
“My client and his parents are heartbroken at death of the young lady,” read the statement Robbins shared with The Tuscaloosa News. “They send their deepest sympathies and sincere prayers to her family and friends. But my client is not the ‘bad guy’ here. Once all the evidence comes out, the public will see and understand who really is the ‘bad guy’ in this tragic situation and who put the events in motion that resulted in the death of Ms. Harris. We ask that everyone would please withhold judgment until all the facts come out and for the media to refrain from portraying Michael as the ‘bad guy.’ Michael is a good person from a good family, and he intends to vigorously defend himself against theses charges.” The Tuscaloosa News confirmed that Robbins is the attorney of record for Davis. On Wednesday, the Tuscaloosa law firm Turner Law Group was retained as Miles’ counsel after a Birmingham firm released a statement on Miles’ behalf earlier this week without his knowledge.
Court documents showed investigators believe Davis fired the shot that killed Harris while Miles supplied the firearm. Miles told police he provided the handgun to Davis.
Davis is not affiliated with UA. Miles was a junior on the Alabama basketball team but is no longer part of the team, according to UA Athletics.
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Officers with the Tuscaloosa Police Department and the University of Alabama Police Department were called to the scene of a reported shooting at about 1:45 a.m. near the Walk of Champions at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Sunday. The driver of the vehicle, not Harris, told officers the vehicle had been shot into and he had fired back in self-defense and may have struck one of the assailants.
At least 11 shots were fired, according to a ring doorbell video The Tuscaloosa News has verified to be genuine.
The shooting appeared to be the result of a minor argument between the victims and suspects, according to the Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit.
The two suspects were developed after processing the scenes, speaking with witnesses and viewing video surveillance, according to the Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit.
Nick Kelly covers Alabama football and men’s basketball for The Tuscaloosa News/USA TODAY Network. Reach him via email: nkelly@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter: @_NickKelly.