Brandon Miller is jokingly PATTED DOWN by a teammate days after police linked him to fatal shooting

Alabama’s belligerent response to Brandon Miller’s involvement in a shooting that killed a 23-year-old mother took another turn on Saturday when a teammate mockingly patted him down as if he was being frisked by police as he walked out on court.

Earlier this week, Tuscaloosa police testified that the freshman forward transported the gun to a then-teammate that was used in a fatal shooting last month.

Michael Lynn Davis and former Alabama player Darius Miles are facing capital murder charges. Miller brought the gun to Miles, who was dismissed from the program after his arrest. Davis has been identified as the shooter. Miller’s attorney, Jim Standridge, has said his client didn’t see the weapon.

Miller then played on Wednesday night against South Carolina and was taunted with chants of ‘lock him up’ during the game. It didn’t hold him back – he scored a career-high 41 points and his team won 78-76.

The highly rated Miller, 20, has apparently used the ‘pat down’ introduction since the season began but clearly, despite this week’s events, sees no reason to stop it.

Brandon Miller was ‘patted down’ by a teammate before playing for Alabama on Saturday

Miller was playing days after it emerged he was involved in a situation where a 23-year-old woman and mother was shot dead

Coach Nate Oats said after the game: ‘I don’t watch our introductions, I’m not involved with them, I’m drawing up plays during that time. 

‘Regardless, it’s not appropriate. It’s been addressed and I can assure you it definitely will not happen again for the remainder of this year.’

The school said on Wednesday it looked further into the situation and cleared Miller to play in the Southeastern Conference game against the Gamecocks. Miller wasn’t charged in the Jan. 15 shooting death of 23-year-old Jamea Jonae Harris.

‘UA Athletics continues to cooperate fully with law enforcement in the on-going investigation of this tragic situation,’ Alabama said in a statement. 

‘Based on all the information we have received, Brandon Miller is not considered a suspect in this case, only a cooperative witness. 

‘Today’s statement from Brandon’s lawyer adds additional context that the University has considered as part of its review of the facts. Based on all of the facts we have gathered, Brandon remains an active member of our team.’

On Tuesday, Tuscaloosa detective Branden Culpepper testified that Miles texted Miller on January 15, asking his then-teammate to bring his gun to an off-campus area, where 23-year-old Harris was later shot and killed. Miller allegedly complied, driving the gun to Miles and Davis, who are both facing capital murder charges for Harris’ death. 

When Miller arrived at the scene, he allegedly contacted Miles in a text message, writing that ‘the heat is in the hat,’ and adding that ‘there’s one in the head,’ according to Culpepper. As the Detective explained, Miller was allegedly indicating that there was a gun in a hat inside his car with a round in its chamber. 

On Tuesday, Tuscaloosa chief deputy district attorney Paula Whitley told AL.com that there was nothing they could charge Miller with.

As for Saturday’s game, Miller top-scored with 24 points as Alabama beat Arkansas 86-83.

Miller top-scored with 24 points as Alabama beat Arkansas 86-83 on Saturday afternoon

Alabama has stood by Miller and has continued to play him in the aftermath of the news 

Head coach Nate Oats said Friday the university has taken the matter seriously since investigators shared details of Miller’s suspected involvement.

‘We’ve been taking it very seriously from Day 1. The first minute that I got the information, I called (athletic director) Greg (Byrne) and we talked about it and the severity of it,’ Oats said. ‘Greg, I thought, did a great job addressing those comments on Wednesday, and I really don’t have much to add to it. 

‘We feel like we’ve done the right thing in this case. So I’m going to leave it at that with Greg’s comments.’