Man Charged With Murder of UConn's Jasper Howard

STORRS, Conn. -- Connecticut police have charged a man with the murder of UConn football player Jasper Howard. John William Lomax III, 21, was charged with murder and conspiracy to commit assault.

"There is no system of justice that can bring back someone who has been taken from us," UConn Commissioner of Public Safety John A. Danaher III said Tuesday. "But we can do all in our power to investigate, arrest and assist in prosecuting those who commit a crime such as this, and we did so in this case."

Bond was set at $2 million for Lomax of Bloomfield, Conn., which is about 30 miles from UConn's campus.

His attorney, however, insists Lomax attempted to break up a fight that erupted after a fire alarm was pulled during a school-sanctioned dance on the university campus Oct. 18. Howard was stabbed shortly after 12:30 AM and died in a Hartford hospital hours later.

Police also charged Bloomfield's Hakim Muhammad, 20, with conspiracy to commit assault, and 21-year-old Jamal Todd of Hartford with pulling the fire alarm -- a felony -- which reportedly began the fight that led to the stabbing as those in attendance at the dance evacuated.

Muhammad is being held on $750,000 bond, while Todd's bond was set at $5,000. Lomax and Muhammad are being held for a court appearance Wednesday in Rockville, Conn. Todd has a court date Nov. 10.

None of the three men are listed as students or employees at the university, according to the school's Web site.

No information about a motive was released at the conference, during which Danaher, UConn Chief of Police Robert S. Hudd and two UConn police officers -- Major Ron Blicher and Lieutenant Colonel Steven Fields -- spoke.

All four refused additional comment, leaving to speculation further details about those arrested and their relation to both Howard and each other.

According to a statement released by the UConn police, a combined task force that included the Connecticut State Police Major Crime Squad worked exclusively on the investigation. The release said that over 400 investigators conducted "well over 200 interviews."

Police, though, said that the investigation remains open, allowing both UConn and state police to search for additional information.

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In this booking photo released on Tuesday Oct. 27, 2009, by the University of Connecticut Police Department, Hakim Muhammad is shown. Muhammad, 20, of Bloomfield, Conn., has been charged with conspiracy to commit assault, in connection with the stabbing death of Connecticut football player Jasper Howard outside a school-sanctioned dance on Oct. 18. (AP Photo/UCONN PD)

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In this photo taken on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009, Miami quarterback Jacory Harris hands off the football during a NCAA football game against Clemson in Miami. Only seven quarterbacks in the country have more interceptions than Harris, who had three interceptions in last week's loss to Clemson. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

In this booking photo released on Tuesday Oct. 27, 2009, by the University of Connecticut Police Department, John William Lomax III is shown Lomax, 21, of Bloomfield, Conn., has been charged with murder for the stabbing death of Connecticut football player Jasper Howard outside a school-sanctioned dance on Oct. 18. (AP Photo/University of Connecticut Police Department)

In this booking photo released on Tuesday Oct. 27, 2009, by the University of Connecticut Police Department, Jamal Todd is shown. Todd, 21, of Hartford, has been charged with a felony charge of falsely reporting an incident and a misdemeanor charge of reckless endangerment, in connection with the stabbing death of Connecticut football player Jasper Howard outside a school-sanctioned dance on Oct. 18. Police say Todd pulled the fire alarm that emptied the dance, triggering the fight. (AP Photo/University of Connecticut Police Department)

In this booking photo released on Tuesday Oct. 27, 2009, by the University of Connecticut Police Department, John William Lomax III is shown Lomax, 21, of Bloomfield, Conn., has been charged with murder for the stabbing death of Coonnecticut football player Jasper Howard outside a school-sanctioned dance on Oct. 18. (AP Photo/University of Connecticut Police Department)

"Throughout this process, we have worked non-stop since the night of the stabbing and had tremendous support from the Connecticut State Police and the Connecticut State Police Major Crime Squad, with whom we would not be able to solve the crime without," Hudd said.

"Personnel worked tirelessly," said Fields, who described the efforts of those investigating as "extraordinary."

Police arrested Johnny Hood Oct. 21, but the 21-year-old was charged only with interfering with an officer and breach of the peace. Hood was not a part of Tuesday's indictments.

According to a Connecticut television station, Hood and Lomax are friends are Facebook.

The 20-year-old Howard, nicknamed Jazz, was a talented cornerback and punt returner for the Huskies. The Miami native was leading the Big East in punt return average at the time of his death.

The Huskies host Rutgers Saturday at noon in their first home game since Howard's death. Coach Randy Edsall said Tuesday that the school has several things planned to honor Howard on Saturday, when there will be a moment of silence. Edsall also said that players will wear Howard's No. 6 jersey during their pre-game "Husky Walk" and his initials on their helmets.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

10-27-2009 @ 6:07PM

Me64250 said...

All of them are f**king cowards!

10-28-2009 @ 3:51PM

bapstko said...

I agree...what loosers taking some's life who was actually determined to do something positive with their future! This is so sad, why these young men couldn't see that if they worked hard and maybe went to college or joined the service that they to could have a great future. Instead like the IDIOTS that they are they kill a successful young athlete...throw them under the jail!

10-27-2009 @ 6:17PM

jaditx2005 said...

This is to the accused, Something to think about while you are in jail. "In looking back across my life. And all I've lost or made, I cant recall a single time when RAGE ever paid." RIP Jasper Howard

10-28-2009 @ 11:35AM

befilga said...

AND LIKE MOST INCIDENTS OR FIGHTS WE'VE ALL HAD IN THE PAST, WE REFLECT ON THOSE FIGHTS NOW AND REALIZE HOW STUPID OR IMMATURE THEY WERE. UNFORTUNATE FOR THIS GUY, WHEN HE REFLECTS AND REALIZES HOW STUPID IT WAS TO STAB THIS GUY, IT WILL BE FROM HIS LIFE LONG CELL. NOT A GOOD WAY TO WASTE YOUR LIFE.

10-27-2009 @ 6:46PM

brenda k greene said...

well for sure he has make a hell-va career for his self, he has make the biggest mistake of his life, but he won't kill anyone else for a while, it sad when our children go wild and don't listen to no one but their friends, and when he get jail those men is having a feild day with his ass, good for him when they kill his ass, he stoped someone want to make life better for himself, and here this fool don't want anything in life but a dam gun to kill someone, what a life like this scumbag,

10-27-2009 @ 7:16PM

tahoe said...

This comment is directed at the article's author, Anthony Olivieri and anyone else who can't spell or use punctuation and grammar appropriately, EDIT YOUR FRIGGING WORK!!! I'm so sick of having to read the banter of others who can't take one minute to proofread their work. Go take a few English courses and stop being so lazy.

10-27-2009 @ 7:59PM

maddend4022 said...

There are alot of problems at universities caused by non-students.
At a dance like this they should look for student ID's, if a person doesn't have one then unless they are with a person who does they should not be admitted to the dance.
My duaghters car got overturned there 10 years ago by non-students at a school function.

10-27-2009 @ 10:36PM

rshiro said...

I have eight children. If they ever kill anyone I will demand they are executed
and will give them no defense. We need to have 12 month execution for anyone who murders a human being. This law would stop thousands of murders in America. We have the highest homicides of any Democratic country in the world. Prisoners in jail cost us taxpayers $40k to $50k thousands dollars a year. Our country has gotten a lot weaker in the last forty years. We need to shape up now.

10-28-2009 @ 5:38AM

Stephanie said...

sad... tis kid leaves the streets of miamia to go to a place where there are more cows then people and gets stabbed and dies..very sad.

10-28-2009 @ 7:37AM

Omar Dunlap said...

I sit and read all the comments left by all the people and it shocks me that people are 'convicted' and 'condemned' before they are even 'tried'. I pray that none of you are never (falsely) arrested and your entire future jeopardized by the conclusions drawn from judgmental and hypocritical people.

It's also such a shame that people still reduce things to race. Foolishness knows no color - whether you're stabbed, shot, or robbed by wall street. It's not a black thing, it's not a white thing...it's a HUMAN thing!

10-28-2009 @ 8:28AM

bdonate764 said...

The suspects must be found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and given the death penalty which must be carried out in a reasonable time not 25 years from now .

10-28-2009 @ 9:19AM

One Term said...

Maybe Obama will have them all over for a beer and "talk" about it. But I guess he will need a month or two to think about it.

10-28-2009 @ 9:20AM

If "they" is who I think they are, you are right.

10-28-2009 @ 9:49AM

Toni said...

Jamal Todd isn't a thug he goes to Eastern Connecticut State University the school down the road.

10-28-2009 @ 9:51AM

laurencewife said...

never fails, post a story about black crime, then you people says it ''hip hop'' related, my father said heavy metal was devil music ''since'' so many white teens took their lives listening to it, theres a 15 yrs old that killed his 14 yrs old brother a couple of days ago, the family is white, please tell me what went wrong?

10-28-2009 @ 9:54AM

Debra said...

Jasper Howard had such a promising career ahead of him. He was extremely talented and so full of life. It is sad when something like this happens, and it happens far too often. There is so much jealousy against young black atheletes. If these are truly the culprits that committed this crime, I hope they rot in prison. That Lomax characer looks capable and looks like one who would committ such a crime due to shear envy. He also looks cocky. Muhummad looks like he might be the weak link. They both should have been trying to do something positive themselves, rather than hating on someone who obviously was headed for stardom. This truly angers me!

10-28-2009 @ 9:56AM

Truwriter said...

Its all part of worshiping a diverse society, whether you are black or white you send your kid to college to get an education but the blacks kid's bring the gangsta culture with them and bring street violence to the campus. These thugs were not students they were there to prey on the befuddled students who have been taught to be victims and never stand up and say I don't like this. At Duquesne some thugs shot a basketball player in the head over some gang slight. They were all black, victim and assailants, and it was over some slight that the basketball made and the gangsta did his best rap video act and shot him in the head ruining the player's life. Black people have to stand up to that culture of violence, thats not something imposed on them, thats volunteering to accept fake cultures and icons. Whitey can't fix that, you have to do it yourself. Or continue having your best kids slaughtered, and you have stood by for that for about 20 yrs now. Stand up and stop it.

10-28-2009 @ 10:14AM

Deball said...

I don't know where you got you stastics, but they are wrong. Speaking of violent crimes, I've not heard of one black man being accused in the recent child murders occurring, not one black man murdering, raping and burying a child alive. You say that blacks don't contribute to the GNP, well the way I see it is that "every" nationality in this country has gained their wealth by exploiting the black communities. If blacks are so poor, how is it that they make everyone else rich? AOL blogs'are unique, when the real issue here is that a young talented man has lost his life, why is everyone talking race hate???? And what scares me the most is that most of the bloggers during this hour are blogging from work. This is what American taxpayers are paying for?

10-28-2009 @ 10:18AM

jr111155 said...

DOES IT MATTER WHAT COLOR THEY ARE???? WHICHEVER ONE STABBED THIS STUDENT NEED TO BE CHARGED AND PROSECUTED TO THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW AND THEN SOME. THEY ARE PUNKS , GET EM ONE BY ONE AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS. THEY WOULD PROBABLY RUN THE OTHER WAY.