A28-year-old male with an extensive criminal record was charged Thursday with the murder last Sunday of University football player Brandon Hall.

The Hennepin County District Attorney’s Office charged Jermaine Octavious Stansberry of Minneapolis with second-degree murder, aggravated robbery and felony possession of a firearm. He was also charged with the assault of football player Damian Haye, 19. Stansberry remains in custody with a $1 million bail.

If convicted on the murder charge, Stansberry faces 3-40 years in prison. He faces 5-15 years for illegal possession of a firearm and up to 20 years for aggravated robbery.

According to the criminal complaint:

At approximately 1:30 a.m. Sunday, Minneapolis police found an injured Haye surrounded by several teammates and an unidentified woman in downtown Minneapolis’ warehouse district.

Haye told police he had tried to break up a fight among a group of males. The group then attacked him and stole his gold necklace in the in the vicinity of Fourth Street and First Avenue.

Witnesses identified Stansberry and Raymond Hardimon Jr., 23, as two individuals who helped kick, punch and rob Haye.

Chuck Gilbert, general manager of South Beach Night Club and a witness to the incident, said in an interview: “(Haye’s) lip was bloody. His shirt was torn and it had a footprint on it. He was pretty much just licking his wounds.”

Haye refused medical attention and did not file a report against his assailants but called several teammates, including Hall, to his aid downtown.

Approximately 20 minutes after the initial attack, police said they saw University football players arguing with Hardimon and Stansberry nearby.

By 2:20 a.m., police said the number of University football players had grown to seven. Police said the players were ready to go home after searching unsuccessfully for Stansberry and Hardimon.

As the players approached their vehicles, they spotted Stansberry, Hardimon and University Facilities Management employee Lee Earl Cain, Jr. After the three men ran toward the players, the teammates — fearing the men were armed — fled.

But police said Hall stopped running, turned around and told Stansberry he wasn’t with the football team. Stansberry then shot Hall from approximately 10 feet away with a black 9mm.

“(Hall) was trying to reduce tension,” Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar said.

Hall collapsed and died shortly after he was shot.

Police said approximately 20 officers were in a two-block radius of the shooting and apprehended Stansberry, Cain and Hardimon in less than 90 seconds after the incident.

Prosecutors said that Cain will not be charged in connection with the shooting or the assault of Haye. Cain, however, remains in custody on an unrelated drug charge.

Police said they found a gold necklace in Stansberry’s pocket that matched the description of Haye’s stolen jewelry.

Stansberry was also convicted in 2000 of felony drug charges in Hennepin County and is prohibited from owning a firearm.

Hardimon was charged with aggravated robbery. His bail was set at $500,000.

Cain’s father, also a University Facilities Management employee, and his mother, a former employee at the University Bookstore in Williamson Hall, said they were relieved Thursday to learn their son would not be charged in connection with the shooting.

“I thank God, and I hate what happened to Hall. My heart goes out to his family,” said Ollie Cain, his mother. “It was shocking when I heard what had happened, and my son — he was in the presence there.”

Stansberry and Hardimon are expected to be arraigned Friday.

Police are still investigating and declined to comment Thursday on the circumstances surrounding the shooting, including whether the football players were intoxicated before the incident. Toxicology reports have not yet been made public.

“I think people have to keep in mind that students make mistakes,” Klobuchar said. “Our victims are never perfect.”

K. C. Howard welcomes comments at [email protected]