A man suspected of murdering Eastern Michigan wide receiver Demarius Reed has pleaded guilty of the crime. Kristopher Pratt entered a plea agreement on Friday in Washtenaw County Trial Court in which he admitted guilt to second-degree murder. As part of the plea deal, Pratt will testify against Ed Thomas, the second man accused of murdering Reed, according to the Associated Press.
Pratt confessed to a county judge to following Reed into an apartment with the intent to rob the football player. Pratt admitted to shooting Reed twice in the side, according to the Associated Press. His testimony will be critical for the trial of Thomas, which is scheduled to begin Monday. A defense lawyer has said there is not enough evidence to convict Thomas, but testimony from Pratt could change that outcome.
Reed ws found dead in his apartment the morning of October 18, when his roommate discovered the scene. Police had suspected Reed was the victim of an armed robbery. A little more than a month later Pratt and Thomas were charged for the murder as well as armed robbery and conspiracy to commit armed robbery.
In Eastern Michigan’s first football game since the homicide, the Eagles returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown in one of the most heartwarming moments of the 2013 college football season. This season Eastern Michigan will begin playing on a new, gray playing field affectionately known as The Factory. Just beneath the surface of the new playing turf is Reed’s football uniform. Players and coaches gathered to honor Reed and bury his jersey in the ground before the new playing surface was installed.