Jasper Howard

This morning began like an other Sunday morning for most students on campus. Many students were likely sleeping in after celebrating the end of homecoming week the night before. But as students woke up we saw alerts from UConn in the form of text messages, emails, and banners on the student page, there had been a stabbing early this morning and the perpetrator was still at large. Then the rumors started to fly. Some may have seen Facebook statuses suggesting it, other heard it from friends, all hoped it wasn't true. However as the day went on we all had to come to the realization that it was true, Jasper Howard had died.

Howard, 20, who came to UConn from Miami, was not only the first person in his family to go to college, but it was announce at today's press conference that he was an expectant father. Senior captain Desi Cullen said, "Hearing the news that he's a father breaks my heart. The idea that he will grow up without a father to raise him will be extremely tough for that child. Along with Jazz looking down on him, that child will have 105 uncles to look up to. As a team, we're going to make sure that we don't just get through these times, but that we grow from it and become better men because of Jazz."

Howard was coming off perhaps the the best game of his career against Louisville. He had recorded eleven tackles and he a key strip and recovery in the third quarter as the Cardinals were getting ready to score. Last season Howard had led the team with four interceptions, and led the Big East with an average punt return of 10.9 yards and 1TD. His career ended with 96 tackles and four interceptions.

Police reported that the stabbing occurred after a fire alarm was pulled in the Student Union, which resulted in over 300 people being evacuated from a dance being held there. Howard and a second victim were brought to St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center in Hartford. Howard died a few hours later and coach Edsall identified his body before calling Howards family to let them know what had happened. Edsall said, "There's nothing in my job description that says you have to identify bodies, and that you have to make the phone calls to the parents, but that's part of the job."

Police announced that the second victim was a UConn student, and had been released from the hospital. His identity was be withheld as the investigation is still ongoing. Anyone with information relating to the incident are asked to contact the police at (860) 486-4800.

For more on the Press Conference Click Here