Self-Defense or Trap? Trial Starts After Fatal Shooting Involving Alabama Basketball Star

Asia Humphrey recalled ducking to the floor in the back of the Jeep Wrangler the moment she heard gunshots. She screamed. She yelled at Jamea Harris to duck, too.

But Harris, Humphrey’s cousin, died from a gunshot wound to the head.

Humphrey teared up at one point when she testified to a jury in a courtroom in downtown Tuscaloosa on Tuesday, thinking back to the moments after Harris’ death.

Humphrey was the first and only witness so far to take the stand in the capital murder trial for Michael Davis. She told the jury about what she remembered happening during the early hours of Jan. 15, 2023 near the Strip in Tuscaloosa.

Davis is charged with capital murder for the death of Harris and is on trial this week in Tuscaloosa County Circuit Court with Judge Daniel Pruet presiding.

Also charged with capital murder is Davis’ friend Darius Miles, who was on the Alabama men’s basketball team at the time. Davis was not affiliated with the team. Miles, who was removed from the team after his arrest, does not yet have a trial date set.

Davis shot at the jeep containing Humphrey, Harris, and Harris' partner, Cedric Johnson. In 2023, a police investigator stated that both Davis and Johnson discharged their weapons close to the Strip earlier that morning. Police reports indicated that Davis initiated the shooting and struck Harris.

After the jury was selected Tuesday morning, prosecutors and Davis’ defense attorney gave different interpretations of what happened.

John Robbins, attorney for Davis, has argued that Johnson shot first and Davis returned fire “acting in self-defense” after a dispute that morning. Davis was shot in the shoulder and injured.

“He acted to protect himself and his friends,” Robbins told jurors Tuesday.

The gun belonged to Miles. Mary Turner, Miles’ attorney, has previously stated in court that Miles provided the gun to Davis for protection.

On Tuesday, both the prosecution and defense brought into question who was “hunting” on the night Harris was shot. Davis and Miles, or Johnson?

After Davis and Miles retrieved the gun, “now they’re hunting,” said Cristen Mejia, an assistant district attorney in Tuscaloosa County.

She also argued the shooting was an “ambush.”

Robbins blamed Harris’ boyfriend.

"This case essentially revolves around Cedric Johnson’s pride, his jealousy, and his insecurities," Robbins informed the jury.

Robbins stated that Johnson was the person who instigated the whole situation.

Once Johnson got behind the wheel of the Jeep and pulled out onto University Boulevard following his exchange with Davis, Robbins observed a change.

“At this point ... Cedric Johnson is on the hunt,” Robbins said.

Once opening statements ended, the prosecutors called Humphrey to testify.

A significant portion of the interrogation focused on events at the crossroads of Grace Street and University. Following their time-consuming visit to the Twelve25 sports bar located in The Strip area with Johnson, Harris, and Humphrey, Johnson decided to grab some food from Quick Grill. Meanwhile, Harris and Humphrey proceeded to fetch the Jeep. It was Humphrey who steered the vehicle towards this junction before halting it beside the stop sign.

Johnson got in the backseat of the car. Around that time, Davis, Miles and former Alabama basketball player Jaden Bradley left Twelve25. As they started to walk up Grace Street, Davis stopped and danced to the front left of the Jeep for about four seconds, Humphrey testified.

Next, Davis moved toward the rear passenger-side window of the vehicle, where Johnson was seated.

"They're doing well, man," Johnson said to Davis from the backseat, as Humphrey recounted in his statement.

“I don’t want your girl,” Davis responded, standing outside the vehicle.

That exchange happened about 10 minutes before Harris’ death.

Shortly after their exchange near the Jeep involving Davis and Johnson, Harris handed Johnson his weapon, according to Humphrey's testimony.

The trial will continue Wednesday morning.

Nick Kelly is an Alabama beat writer for News in A Day And the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X and Instagram .

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