An Alabama jury awarded a former Crimson Tide basketball player $9.25 million in damages after finding that The New York Times defamed him with an incorrect report stating he was at the scene of a fatal shooting in Tuscaloosa.

Former Alabama walk-on Kai Spears sued The New York Times in 2023 after the newspaper reported that he was a passenger in Brandon Miller’s car at the scene of the shooting. The report, attributed to an anonymous source, placed Spears at the scene. The Times later retracted that claim and corrected the story in an editor’s note, but Spears’ name had already been publicly linked to the shooting.

The Times, who had not lost a defamation suit in more than 50 years according to a story from ESPN, stated they are reviewing legal options after losing in court.

The shooting, which left Jamea Harris dead, made national headlines. Former Alabama basketball player Darius Miles remains in the Tuscaloosa County Jail awaiting a December capital murder trial for allegedly aiding and abetting co-defendant Michael Davis.

Miller, the star player on the then-No. 1-ranked Crimson Tide, was at the scene of the shooting and testified in the Davis trial that he was nearly hit by bullets during the ordeal. Miles’ gun had been in the back seat of Miller’s car, which Miller drove to the scene. Miles handed the gun to Davis before the shooting occurred.

Davis was convicted of capital murder in May 2025 and sentenced to life in prison without parole. Miles’ trial is scheduled to begin on December 1, 2026.