“Based on information from a person familiar with the case, the article erroneously identified that person as Kai Spears, a freshman basketball player. After the article was initially published, Alabama’s athletic director and Spears’s father denied that Spears was present. The Times included those responses and reviewed its reporting, but did not conclude that any other change to the article was warranted at that time.”

The New York Times · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-21

The editor's note explained how Spears was erroneously identified as being present at the shooting scene despite denials from Alabama's athletic director and Spears's father.