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Trial Set To Begin In Murder Of Former Simeon Football Star

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (CBS) -- The family of a Chicago man murdered last fall in Michigan will be in court this week in Ann Arbor, as one of the accused killers goes on trial.

WBBM Newsradio's Steve Miller reports Demarius Reed was 20 years old when he was shot and killed in the entrance to his apartment building near Eastern Michigan University.

Reed had been a star on the Simeon Academy football team, and played for EMU.

"He was living out his dream. That's what makes it really difficult, because he was doing all the right things; trying to do things the right way," said his father, Carl Reed, who is in Ann Arbor for the trial of a 21-year-old man charged with murder and robbery in Demarius Reed's death.

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Carl Reed said he is anxious about the trial

"Really nervous about what the result will be," he said.

Carl Reed said he is struggling with the fact that the second young man charged with the murder pleaded guilty, and might not get the prison time he deserves.

"I mean, it's a good thing that he is admitting to what happened, but at the same time it's bittersweet, because with a plea bargain he doesn't receive as much time as maybe he should've had. That's something that I'm struggling with, personally," he said.

As the trial begins in Ann Arbor, Carl Reed said he will walk the campus of EMU to see his son's teammates.

"You know, his memory lives in that space," he said.

"That's something that I'm struggling with personally."

Reed says he will be at the trial - along with Demarius' grandparents, aunt and girlfriend. And his teammates.

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