Wrongful death lawsuit filed against former Alabama players Brandon Miller, Darius Miles
The mother of the woman killed near the University of Alabama in January filed a wrongful death lawsuit Friday against three individuals, including Charlotte Hornets rookie and former Crimson Tide standout Brandon Miller.
Miller, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft, was named in the suit along with fellow Alabama men's basketball player Darius Miles and Miles' friend, Michael Davis, both of whom are facing capital murder charges in the Jan. 15 fatal shooting of 23-year-old Jamea Harris.
Harris' mother, Decarla Raietta Heard, filed the suit in the Northern District of Alabama Western Division. Harris estate, represented by Heard, is seeking a jury trial and potential damages. Harris was survived by a 5-year-old daughter at the time of her death.
Miller, the Southeastern Conference Player of the Year, was not charged with a crime but a police investigator testified in February that he was at the scene and that the murder weapon was supplied to Miles and Davis from the back of his car. Miller's lawyer denied his knowledge of the intent to use a weapon at the time.
"Miles, Davis and Miller knew or should have known that bringing a dangerous weapon to a dispute and discharging said weapon would likely result in harm to those around them," the lawsuit states.
Miller's rookie contract is worth $49 million over four years.
In March prior to the men's NCAA Tournament, Miller called "this whole situation heartbreaking."
"I never lose sight of the fact that a family lost one of their loved ones that night," Miller said at the time.