Alabama AD Greg Byrne refutes New York Times report about Kai Spears being at scene of Jan. 15 shooting

Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne released a statement on Thursday refuting a report from The New York Times that placed a fourth Crimson Tide men’s basketball player — freshman Kai Spears — at the scene of the Jan. 15 killing of Jamea Harris in Tuscaloosa. Former Alabama player Darius Miles was charged with capital murder as a result of that shooting and was shortly removed from the team and university.

Two other players, it subsequently became known, were at the scene that night: Jaden Bradley and Brandon Miller. And then on Wednesday, the Times reported Spears was also present. Byrne released his response as Alabama played Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in the Round of 64 in Birmingham, Alabama.

“Last night, an inaccurate report was published about Kai Spears, one of our student-athletes, being present at the time of the incident. This is untrue. As law enforcement previously shared, Brandon Miller and Jaden Bradley were present. Both are fully cooperating witnesses. Neither have been charged with any offense nor did they violate University policy,” Byrne said in the statement, in part.

Byrne continued: “Some inaccurate narratives have been reported about the involvement of Alabama student-athletes that display and unfortunate disregard of the facts. We ask all to exercise careful due diligence before reporting on this sensitive situation.”

At multiple points in the statement, Byrne states that Alabama is not at liberty to share information from law enforcement.

“As previously mentioned, it is not our role to share details about a pending legal matter,” Byrne said.

Spears released a statement on Thursday afternoon, stating the report is “100% inaccurate.”

“I have one thing to say – the report in the New York Times was 100% inaccurate and the writer had complete disregard for the truth,” Spears wrote. “I am trying to process and cope with these false statements that somehow have been published and then seen by so many. So thankful to Alabama Athletics for refuting it on my behalf.

“More than anything… I remain completely heartbroken by the tragic death that occurred that night.”

As walk-on at Alabama, Spears is the son of Marshall athletic director Christian Spears, who said the family is “exploring all legal options,” in response to the report.

Spears, a freshman walk-on, hasn’t played for Alabama this season.

Since Miles was kicked off the team and out of the university, none of the other Alabama players linked to the shooting have faced criminal charges or discipline from the school. Miller, one of the best players in the country, has been under particular scrutiny for allegedly ferrying the murder weapon to the scene of the shooting.