University of Alabama men’s basketball player Kai Spears has filed a defamation lawsuit against the New York Times alleging the newspaper falsely claimed he was at the scene of a fatal shooting in January.
The shooting, which occurred in Tuscaloosa near the school’s campus on January 15, resulted in the death of Jamea Jonae Harris and an indictment against former Alabama basketball player Darius Miles.
In the complaint according to the Washington Post, Spears says he was with friends in his dorm room the night the events happened. The suit also apparently contains an affidavit from one of Spears’ friends who claimed to be with him that night.
“I wasn’t anywhere near the crime scene or near it at the time it happened,” Spears said, according to the Post. “I don’t think it’s a mistaken identity. I just think they haven’t done their due diligence.
“I’ve had multiple threats like Twitter and Instagram, people told me to kill myself, people said I’m a killer, we’re a squad full of killers. And they’re just spreading this false story… I mean, I didn’t do anything wrong.”
Alabama basketball walkon Kai Spears is suing the New York Times for libel
Spears says the Times falsely identified him as being present during a January 15 shooting
The shooting in question occurred late on January 15 in downtown Tuscaloosa
Miles, who was charged with capital murder and fired from the team, has pleaded not guilty. Two other players – Brandon Miller and Jaden Bradley – were also present, but neither has been charged with a crime.
Prior to Alabama’s opening game of the NCAA tournament, the Times alleged that Spears was in a vehicle during the shootout with Miller.
The newspaper said that “a person familiar with the case” who was granted anonymity “to discuss sensitive issues in the case” identified Spears.
NYT spokeswoman Danielle Rhoades Ha responded to the lawsuit via The Post, saying, “We plan to defend vigorously against the suit.’ The Times previously backed the coverage of this story and has not acted on a request for retraction from Spears.
Spears posted a statement on Twitter in March saying, “The New York Times report was 100% inaccurate and the writer completely ignored the truth.
“I am trying to process and deal with these false statements that have been published and seen in one way or another by so many. SO thankful to Alabama Athletics for refuting on my behalf.
“More than anything … I am heartbroken by the tragic death of that knight.”
Christian Spears, Kai’s father and Marshall University athletic director, called the reporting “false and inaccurate and no due diligence was done.”
Darius Miles was indicted on capital murder charges for the murder of 23-year-old Jamea Harris
Jamea Harris was shot and killed on January 15 near the University of Alabama campus
The University of Alabama denied that Spears was at the scene and requested a correction
Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne called the story untrue, saying the reporting showed “an unfortunate disregard for facts.”
Spears’ lawsuit accuses the Times of defamation, libel and invasion of privacy by false information.
The suit explains Spears’ whereabouts – claiming he had two friends from Clemson University visiting. After Alabama won an LSU basketball game, the trio went to a Waffle House and then returned to his dorm room before heading to “the Strip” – an entertainment district in downtown Tuscaloosa.
This complaint says the group briefly met Miller at around 12:30 p.m., then left him behind and went to a barbecue joint. After speaking with Bradley on Facetime about future evening plans, Spears and company left the area at around 1:40 a.m., returned to his dorm room, and remained there for the rest of the night.
In the parking lot of his dormitory, Spears called Miller and Bradley when he was told that “shots had been fired at the windshield of Mr. Miller’s vehicle.”
The next day, Spears spoke to the Tuscaloosa Police Department. The suit says: ‘The police investigation has conclusively shown that Plaintiff Spears was not present at the time of the shooting.’
Witz left and the story was posted on the Times website that evening. Denials from Byrne and Christian Spears were added the next day.
Spears says he has experienced severe emotional distress as a result of “false statements linking him to a criminal event.”