Co-Defendant Gives Chilling Details Into Shooting Of EMU Football Player
DETROIT (WWJ) - One of the men accused in the death of an Eastern Michigan University football player testified Thursday against a second defendant -- as part of a plea deal.
Twenty-year old Kristopher Pratt admitted to the jury that he shot Demarius Reed last October at Reed's Ypsilanti apartment complex.
But Pratt told the court that co-defendant Ed Thomas came up with the idea to rob Reed of his money and a white iPhone.
Dressed in a suit with a purple shirt and tie - Thomas continually shook his head during testimony.
Pratt testified that it was an alcohol-fueled night of partying that led up to the shooting of Reed.
Thomas and Pratt are accused of killing Reed on Oct. 18 in the hallway of the off-campus University Green apartments, on Green Road near Leforge Road, where Reed lived. Police said Reed was shot multiple times, including at least once in the face.
Pratt told the court that he and Thomas followed Reed into the building with the intention of robbing the 20-year-old wide receiver from Chicago. Pratt confessed that he shot Reed twice.
According to investigators, a party was taking place at the time Reed was killed. Ypsilanti's Interim Police Chief Tony DeGiusti said several students at the party reported hearing gunshots, but none of them called police. He also said at least one person walked past Reed as he lay on the stairwell, but didn't call the police "because they just thought he was someone passed-out from the party."
Meanwhile the victim's grandfather Joe Reed says he just wants justice - it doesn't matter who pulled the trigger of the gun on that day.
" ... some closure, you know, somebody did some bad deed that should be punished for that," said Joe Reed. "It's good just to know what really happened ... and why. The real reason is why? That's what I can't understand, why would you do that?"
Joe Reed told WWJ's Kathryn Larson that neither defendant appears remorseful about the killing - Pratt alluded to the notion that he's had a lot of time to think while behind bars.
Closing arguments are scheduled for Monday in Thomas' trial.
Vigil At Eastern Michigan University Draws Hundreds In Memory Of Demarius Reed
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