Two football players arraigned for second degree murder

Central Michigan University football players Jerry Seymour and Spencer Lewis were indicted today for the second degree murder of DeMarcus Graham, investigators announced.

A third player, James Edward Cooper Jr. of Detroit, also was indicted for two counts of perjury, one count of obstruction of justice and another count of accessory after the fact.

“We believe we have some of those responsible for Graham’s death,” Isabella County Prosecutor Larry Burdick said Tuesday during a press conference with the Mount Pleasant Police Department.

Seymour, last year’s first team Mid-American Conference tailback, has been suspended from the team indefinitely since April 1, when he was arrested for lying to the grand jury.

The three football players received eight of the 22 indictments issued Tuesday by the Isabella County Court grand jury investigating the July 14, 2004 death of Graham, a Flint native.

Cora Lee Hawkins, 20, a Detroit sophomore from CMU, also was indicted on one count of perjury.

Burdick would not comment about the other indictments until arrests are made.

The four suspects were arraigned this afternoon in Isabella County Court.

In addition to the second degree murder charge, Seymour and Lewis also are charged with perjury and involuntary manslaughter and assault with intent to do great bodily harm.

Graham was beaten unconscious outside Shaboom’s Pub Club, 106 Court St., in the early morning of June 25, 2004. He later died at St. Mary’s Hospital in Saginaw on July 14.

The grand jury began Sept. 21, 2004 at Burdick’s request. Chief Judge Paul Chamberlain appointed himself the lone grand juror.