Michael Lynn Davis, who has been charged with murder in the deadly shooting on the Strip, is not the “bad guy” in what happened Sunday morning, his attorney said Thursday.
Davis, 20, and former University of Alabama basketball player Darius Miles, 21, have been charged with the murder of 23-year-old Jamia Jonia Harris.
John Robbins, the attorney representing Davis, said, “Once all the evidence comes out, the public will see and understand who really is the ‘bad guy’ in this tragic situation.” AL.com “And who led to the events that resulted in the death of Ms. Harris.”
Here is the full coverage of the case
Davis is from Maryland but lives and works in Alabama.
“My client and her parents are heartbroken by the young woman’s death,” Robbins said. “They offer their deepest condolences and sincere prayers to her family and friends.”
Robbins said, “We ask that everyone please withhold judgment until all the facts are out and the media refrains from portraying Michael as a ‘bad guy.'”
“Michael is a good man from a good family, and he intends to vigorously defend himself against these allegations.”
Harris, the mother of a 5-year-old son, was visiting her cousin and boyfriend in Tuscaloosa for the weekend. They had gone to a club and then stopped for something to eat when they encountered Miles and Davis.
his mother told AL.com that the suspects were trying to talk with her and she was not interested because she had a boyfriend. The situation escalated, and she said all three were stopped from leaving and one of the suspects approached the car with a gun.
Harris’ boyfriend also had a gun and gunfire ensued.
Harris was hit once. Her boyfriend drove his car away from the scene and Bryant stopped at the Walk of Champions at Denny Stadium when he saw a police car.
Harris was pronounced dead at the scene at approximately 1:45 p.m.
Investigators determined that the shooting occurred in the 400 block of Grace Street at University Boulevard. One of the suspects – believed to be Davis – was also hit by gunfire but was not seriously injured.
Miles and Davis were both taken into custody later Sunday. They remain without bond in the Tuscaloosa County Jail.
State witnesses in charging documents against him identified Davis as the shooter, and Miles admitted to providing the gun to Davis shortly before the shooting.
Miles’ attorneys said they were shocked by Harris’ death.
He was represented on the charge by attorneys Mary Turner, Kayla Griffin and Grace Prince of Turner Law Group, who issued a statement on his behalf on Wednesday.
No court date has yet been set in the case.
