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)

University of Connecticut Police Department

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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.