Student walked past lifeless body of Eastern Michigan football player but assumed he'd passed out drunk didn’t call for help

  • Additionally, at least six people heard gunshots while partying nearby but also did not call for help
  • Reed's body lay slumped in his apartment complex stairwell until his roommate found him around 7:15am Friday
  • Around 30 people who were near the scene of the crime have been interviewed by police

By Daily Mail Reporter

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At least one person saw the mortally wounded Eastern Michigan University football player Demarius Reed lying in an apartment building stairwell last Friday but thought he'd just passed out from a party and didn’t call for help.

Interim Ypsilanti Police Chief Tony DeGiusti also announced Tuesday that at least six people heard gunshots in the moments before the player and others saw a fight in a parking lot.

Those six didn’t call police either.

Shocking: After 20-year-old Demarius Reed was murdered in his apartment complex hallway, at least one person walked by his body and ignored it, believing he was passed out drunk

Shocking: After 20-year-old Demarius Reed was murdered in his apartment complex hallway, at least one person walked by his body and ignored it, believing he was passed out drunk

Demarius Reed was a promising wide receiver who hoped to make it to the NFL after he finished his degree, which was just two years away

Senseless: Demarius Reed was a promising wide receiver who hoped to make it to the NFL after he finished his degree, which was just two years away

Police say it wasn't until Reed's roommate happened upon the body that the death was reported, around 7:15am.

Police have released these new details after a resident of a building near where Reed was murdered reported being pistol whipped by an attacker who knocked on his door a few days after Reed’s death.

 

There have a total of four attacks near campus in recent days, including two sexual assaults.

‘This has been an extremely bizarre and unusual series of events these past few days with senseless, random acts of violence,’ said university President Sue Martin.

Epidemic? Eastern Michigan University Police Chief Bob Hayes speaks with students and community members during a safety forum Tuesday. Police released the new information after it came to light that another man was attacked days after Reed

Epidemic? Eastern Michigan University Police Chief Bob Hayes speaks with students and community members during a safety forum Tuesday. Police released the new information after it came to light that another man was attacked days after Reed

Why? Ypsilanti's Interim Police Chief Tony DeGiust, center, also said that 6 people heard gunshots the night of Reed's murder but, like the student who passed by his body, did not call police

Why? Ypsilanti's Interim Police Chief Tony DeGiust, center, also said that 6 people heard gunshots the night of Reed's murder but, like the student who passed by his body, did not call police

Tragic: The former Chicago high school football star was studying communications

Tragic: The former Chicago high school football star was studying communications

Police are offering $5,000 for clues to the killer's identity and say they're looking for anyone who attended a party at the off-campus University Green apartments where he was found dead.

The 20-year-old communications junior major from Chicago was shot multiple times Friday in what police say may have been a robbery.

So far, about 30 people have been interviewed by police, multiple pieces of evidence have been collected and several homes have been searched, MLive.com reported.

'Police can’t be everywhere,' Eastern Michigan Police Chief Robert Heighes told the forum. 'It’s a collaborative effort. We need the support of our community.'

The authorities say the investigation is bearing fruit.

‘We are actively working some solid leads,’ DeGiusti said. ‘We are diligently working on this case.’

Teammates plan to attend Reed's funeral Saturday in Harvey, Ill. A visitation is scheduled for Friday.

A moment of silence was held for Reed before Saturday's home game against Ohio, and team captains led the team out of the locker room holding his No. 2 jersey aloft. Players wore helmet decals and jersey patches with Reed's number on them.

He'll be missed: Eastern Michigan University fans honor Demarius Reed before an NCAA college football game against Ohio on Saturday

He'll be missed: Eastern Michigan University fans honor Demarius Reed before an NCAA college football game against Ohio on Saturday

Teammates: Eastern Michigan University's Campbell Allison knees after a moment of silence to honor Demarius Reed before Saturday's game against Ohio

Teammates: Eastern Michigan University's Campbell Allison knees after a moment of silence to honor Demarius Reed before Saturday's game against Ohio

Homicide: Reed's body was found in the hallway of this apartment complex

Homicide: Reed's body was found in the hallway of this apartment complex

Horror: Eastern Michigan football player Donald Scott takes a moment as he stands in front of the doorway to an apartment building at University Green Apartments where his teammate was shot last week

Horror: Eastern Michigan football player Donald Scott takes a moment as he stands in front of the doorway to an apartment building at University Green Apartments where his teammate was shot last week

Searching: An Ypsilanti police officer uses a flashlight while searching shrubbery lining the sidewalk of a building at University Green Apartments. At least four other attacks have occurred in the area since Reed's murder

Searching: An Ypsilanti police officer uses a flashlight while searching shrubbery lining the sidewalk of a building at University Green Apartments. At least four other attacks have occurred in the area since Reed's murder

The 5-foot-10-inch, 161-pound wide receiver played in six games this season, catching 15 passes for 181 yards and a touchdown.

He made 18 receptions for 171 yards in nine games last season. He scored one touchdown.

Investigators spent around five hours at the scene this morning and could be seen through a window in the stairwell of the hallway where police said the body was found.

 

In the game: Eastern Michigan junior Demarius Reed, 2, celebrates with Dustin Creel after catching a touchdown

In the game: Eastern Michigan junior Demarius Reed, 2, celebrates with Dustin Creel after catching a touchdown

Several residents of the apartment complex who entered and exited the building's east side entrance Friday morning told The Ann Arbor News they did not hear any gunshots overnight.

Kristy Stanford, an Eastern Michigan University student who lives in the building to CBS News she said she heard a large group of people a party on Thursday night.

She said they were preparing to leave for a party elsewhere. She was questioned by police Friday morning.

'The police asked us questions like was it a party last night, did you hear gunshots or was there anyone lingering around.'

A woman who was brought to the scene by Ypsilanti police detectives cried out in the parking lot just before the body was brought out.

The woman is believed to be one of Reed's family members.

People who knew the star player have been paying tribute to him.

Vice President/Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Heather Lyke said that Reed was a good person to have in the sporting community.

'Demarius was an influential leader who thrived in the classroom and on the field. Everyone gravitated to him and often described him as the 'life of the locker room.' Our hearts go out to Demarius' family. We are doing all we can to help and support them along with the rest of our student-athletes.'

EMU President Susan Martin released the following statement on Friday afternoon:

'We are all deeply saddened by the tragic news this morning involving Eastern Michigan University student Demarius Reed.

Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends, and his teammates on the football team.'

Tribute: The university has set up a website paying tribute to Reed and his influence when it came to college sports

Tribute: The university has set up a website paying tribute to Reed and his influence when it came to college sports

Game on: A moment of silence was held for Reed before Saturday's home game against Ohio, and team captains led the team out of the locker room holding his No. 2 jersey aloft

Game on: A moment of silence was held for Reed before Saturday's home game against Ohio, and team captains led the team out of the locker room holding his No. 2 jersey aloft

The comments below have not been moderated.

Young and vibrate, so full of life with a promising future ahead of him, cut short...such a sad loss..."Gone so young" "Gone too soon"......RIP Demarius #2

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I wouldn't leave anyone passed out whether I knew them or not, heck even if I disliked them.

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Well obviously heavy alcohol intake there is common among the students.

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This is such a sad way to go...my sincere condolences to the family...RIP Demarius #2

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The University offers $5000 for information. The University's President's chartered plane and hotel room for next away game is twice that amount. It shows the value of student athletes in today's world. Pathetic and tragic in every way.

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Some friends. Who leaves anyone they've been partying with slumped in a stairwell? Pigs RIP. I hope they find your killer and your "friends" have some serious remorse for just walking past you. Sad.

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