Update: The New York Times on June 2, 2023 issued a correction to its report from March 15 to show that Cooper Lee, not Kai Spears, was in Brandon Miller’s car the night Jamea Harris was killed.
Two-and-a-half months after disputing a report that he was in the passenger seat of Brandon Miller’s car the night Jamea Harris was shot to death, Kai Spears has taken legal action.
The Alabama basketball walk-on is suing the New York Times for defamation, libel and invasion of privacy under false light — which protects non-public figures.
“I was not anywhere near the scene or vicinity at the time that took place,” Spears told the Washington Post on Wednesday. “I don’t think it is a mistaken identity. I just think they didn’t do their due diligence.”
Harris’ murder led to the arrest of former Tide player Darius Miles and Micahel “Buzz” Davis and a bevy of public scrutiny for the program.
A month after Harris’ death, Tuscaloosa police investigators testified Brandon Miller and Jaden Bradley were present at the scene.
Spears’ reported involvement was reported nearly a month after the testimony.
Published on March 15, the Times cited “a person familiar with the case who spoke on the condition of anonymity” when it named Spears and included statements from UA and Spears either denying the claim or declining to comment.
Spears —according to sworn affidavits by two friends visiting Spears that weekend — had dinner with Miller but left and returned to his dorm in Bryant Hall before Miller left to pick up Miles.
Spears awoke the following day to missed calls from the Tuscaloosa Police Department.
“Everything kind of blew up,” Spears told the Washington Post.
“I had multiple threats from like Twitter and Instagram, people telling me to kill myself, people telling me I’m a murderer, we’re a team full of murderers. And they’re just kind of putting this false narrative out … I mean, I did nothing wrong.”
The suit, filed Tuesday morning in Alabama’s Northern district court and reviewed by AL.com, states Spears is seeking upwards of $75,000 in damages due to emotional and physical distress.
Spears also said he’s received death threats. He is being represented by West Virginia attorney Stephen New. Judge Lawrence Scott Coogler, a UA law school alum, has been assigned the case.
Spears refuted the Times’ story the day after it was published.
His father, Marshall athletic director Christan Spears, also released a statement. New told AL.com in March it could prove the Times’ report was “demonstrably false.”
Nick Alvarez is a reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @nick_a_alvarez or email him at NAlvarez@al.com.