Man faces at least 32 years in prison in death of MSU student

EAST LANSING – A Grand Rapids man pleaded guilty today to a murder charge in the killing of a Michigan State University student in January of last year.

Marquay McCoy, 20, faces a minimum of 32 years in prison and up to a life sentence after he pleaded guilty to second degree murder and armed robbery. McCoy will be sentenced April 8.

McCoy was accused in the January 2014 shooting death of Dominique Nolff, 20, at Cedar Street Apartments in East Lansing's Cedar Village area. Nolff was an MSU sophomore.

"I went to 220 Cedar St. to rob the victim, pulled a gun out and got into an altercation and the gun started going off," McCoy said before Ingham County Circuit Court Judge Clinton Canady III. "The victim died."

If Canady imposes a different number of years, either McCoy or prosecutors would be allowed to withdraw from the plea agreement.

Members of McCoy's family attended today's hearing.

"I love you, mom," McCoy said as he was escorted out of the courtroom. "I love you son," his father said.

Nolff's roommate, Corbin Holwerda, earlier testified that McCoy attempted to rob the roommates at gunpoint of medical marijuana and a laptop during a Jan. 31 party. Holwerda said he restrained McCoy in a "full Nelson" and Nolff was repeatedly punching McCoy in the face when McCoy began firing a .9 mm pistol. Holwerda said he didn't know McCoy.

Two bullets struck Nolff — in the head and shoulder area — Holwerda testified at an earlier hearing. Nolff, who left the apartment and was found unresponsive on a nearby porch, died the next day. Holwerda was shot in the calf.

McCoy was a parole absconder at the time.

A forensic scientist matched blood in the bedroom with McCoy's DNA. His DNA also was found on the pistol.