Jaden Bradley and one his Alabama basketball teammates tried to pull Michael Davis away from the confrontation at the Jeep that spawned a deadly shooting two years ago, Bradley told a jury in Tuscaloosa today.
But even after the trio of Bradley, teammate Darius Miles and Davis walked away during the early morning hours of Jan. 15, 2023, Davis went went back to “look for the Jeep,” Bradley testified at Davis’ capital murder trial.“
“He was worried about the Jeep,” Bradley told the jury on Wednesday in a Tuscaloosa courtroom.
The prosecution and the defense took different angles in their questioning over what Bradley shared about Davis and the Jeep, which carried Jamea Harris, her boyfriend Cedric Johnson and her cousin Asia Humphrey. Was Davis looking for trouble or looking to avoid trouble?
Minutes after Davis went to look for the Jeep, Harris was dead of a gunshot wound to the head.
Davis fired into the Jeep. A police investigator in 2023 testified that both Davis and Johnson fired their guns early that morning near the Strip. According to police, Davis fired first and hit Harris.
John Robbins, attorney for Davis, has argued that Johnson shot first and Davis returned fire “acting in self-defense.” Davis was shot in the shoulder and injured.
Skylar Essex, Miles’ girlfriend who witnessed the shooting, testified Wednesday that she didn’t know who shot first, but could tell the muzzle flash was from “inside the Jeep.”
Johnson testified Wednesday morning, telling the jury that Davis had threatened him.
“He was real aggressive in the sense he wanted to fight,” Johnson told the jury.
“After he said he whacks folks, Jamea slid me my gun.”
Also charged with capital murder is Miles, who was removed from the team after his arrest. He does not yet have a trial date set.
The gun belonged to Miles. Mary Turner, Miles’ attorney, has previously stated in court that Miles provided the gun to Davis for protection.
After Alabama played LSU that night, Bradley had been hanging out on the Strip with Miles and his friend, Davis, who was not affiliated with the basketball team. Bradley transferred to play basketball for the University of Arizona after the 2022-23 season.
When they left Twelve25, a sports bar on the Strip, Bradley watched as Davis danced in front of the Jeep that carried Harris, Johnson and Humphrey. The Jeep was parked at a stop sign at the corner of Grace Street and University Boulevard.
Davis danced there for about four seconds, then he walked up to the back window of the Jeep, where Johnson sat at the time.
“They were going back and forth,” Bradley told the jury.
Bradley said “yes” when asked by the prosecution if it looked like the interaction was heated.
Bradley also testified he did not hear Davis make any threats to anyone. All Bradley said he heard was one line from Davis: “Who you talking to?”
Bradley also testified he and Miles tried to pull Davis away from the Jeep.
Then they went back to Bradley‘s Dodge Challenger, “a two-seater,” as it was described in court, with a small backseat.
“There was no room for him in the backseat,” Bradley said.
Davis walked away, Bradley said. But Bradley did not know where Davis went.
Bradley also testified he did not know that Miles texted then-Alabama basketball player Brandon Miller asking for Miles’ gun after the confrontation at the Jeep.
Miller, now with the Charlotte Hornets, drove to the Strip because he was Miles’ ride, per police testimony. Miles texted his teammate, Miller, asking for his “joint.” The investigator testified that meant Miles’ gun, which he had left in the backseat of Miller’s car.
Later, on Grace Street, Davis retrieved Miles’ gun from the back of the car, per police testimony. Attorney Jim Standridge, then representing Miller, said in 2023 that Miller was already on his way to pick up his teammate, Miles, when Miller received the text.
Standridge also said Miller never touched the gun, wasn’t involved in the exchange of it and “never knew that illegal activity involving the gun would occur.”
Miller was not charged with a crime. Neither was Bradley.
Once Bradley and Miles drove to Grace Street to look for Davis, Miles got out of the car. Bradley testified that he didn’t know anything that was happening outside the car. The next thing he remembered: hearing gun shots.
Bradley immediately drove away by himself. He testified he eventually went back to Bryant Hall, where he lived. He testified that he did not call police or a coach.
Bradley was familiar with Davis prior to that night, he testified. Bradley said Davis, as Miles’ friend, would be at open scrimmages for the basketball team. He also said “yessir” when asked if Miles brought Davis to the locker room from time to time. Bradley said most on the team knew Davis.
The trial will continue Thursday.
