Jamea Harris' mom laments death of 'high-spirited' daughter who was shot dead near University of Alabama
TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA: As the case progresses against the two male suspects in the fatal shooting of Jamea Harris, the victim’s mother has put out a public statement about her loss. Harris reportedly died on January 15 after an Alabama basketball player, Darius Miles, and another man, Michael Lynn Davis, allegedly fired at her near the University of Alabama campus.
“It appears that the only motive was a minor altercation that these individuals had with the victim as they were out on The Strip,” Captain Jack Kennedy of Tuscaloosa Police said as reported by The Guardian. The two accused were then charged with capital murder. Now, Harris’ mother, DeCarla Cotton, who also goes by the name Decarla Heard, has remembered her and told WBRC FOX6 News, “Oh, she was. She was a beautiful girl.”
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‘She was just a great person'
“She was high-spirited, always the life of the party, and always excited to be around family, and friends and have a good time. You know she was just a great person, a great mother to her son,” Cotton shared. Her late daughter Harris, who was only 23, has left behind a five-year-old son. Cotton said she finds it really difficult to soothe Harris' son as he knows his mother is dead. “She was a beautiful young woman who loved her family and most of all her 5-year-old son Kaine. She was just trying to enjoy her weekend with her cousin that attends the University of Alabama and her boyfriend,” Harris’ mother told AL.com. In a Facebook post hours after the crime happened, Cotton wrote, “Took my baby life because she wouldn’t talk to him!!!!”
‘She kept the cousins together'
Harris was also remembered by her first cousin Kennedi Henderson, who said, “She was a humble soul, and she was always a happy soul. We literally grew up together. She kept the cousins together and pushed us to be the best. She was the best little cousin I can ask for, honestly. The family and I are just in disbelief that something like this has happened to her. We just ask for prayers at this time."
‘She had a heart of gold'
Meanwhile, a GoFundMe page was started for Harris’ little boy by Decarla Heard. The message on the page read, “I was asked to up this fundraiser to assist with the care of my daughter's son Kaine. Her life was taken from her at the young age of 23 in a senseless cowardly act. She leaves behind a five-year-old son that will never know how beautiful his mother was inside and out.
“She had a heart of gold and was loved by all. It’s no way to express how much she will be missed! I thank everyone that has reached out with their prayers and condolences and I appreciate however you would like to help.”