Family, Teammates Remember Jasper Howard
UConn students gathered for candlelight vigils
AP
Connecticut wide receiver Kashif Moore, center, stands with mourners during a candle vigil for Jasper Howard on Monday night.
With candles in their hands, the parents of Jasper Howard huddled together with his teammates and friends for a candlelight vigil outside of the UConn Student Union.
“There was a prayer. We all held hands. One of the football players spoke. It was pretty much silent. I think we’re all pretty much thinking to ourselves and taking it all in,” said Marilyn Bennett, a senior at UConn.
There were two separate vigils held on campus. At each, students came together to comfort one another and remember the man they called “Jazz.”
“I just think it’s important to celebrate his life. He was a really big part of our community, and I think it’s really important to acknowledge what he was and how all of us are going to miss him so much,” said Casey Duffy, a sophomore at UConn.
“He was just a good guy. You know someone that loved his university, loved his team, and just a person that loved life,” added Jocelyn West, a senior.
To pay tribute to Howard, many students rushed to the UConn Co-op to buy t-shirts with his number. In just a few hours, they were sold out.
“I wanted to make sure I had it to honor Jasper,” said Matthew McDonough, who rushed to get a t-shirt this morning. Friends are also hoping for justice. Police already arrested one man in connection with the stabbing that killed Howard and injured his teammate Brian Parker. Twenty-one-year-old Johnny Hood was arraigned on charges of interfering with an officer and breach of peace.
Now a Hartford attorney tells NBC Connecticut that his client, an unidentified Bloomfield man, will be arrested in connection with Howard’s death. He says his client did not stab Howard, but was there when it happened.
The attorney says others will also be arrested in the next few days. “I really hope and pray they find the person who did it. Even though it won’t bring him back,” said Colin McDonough, a sophomore who had class with Howard.
Posted Monday, Oct 19, 2009 - 10:58 PM EST
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