Suspect in Howard Slaying Pleads Not Guilty

John Lomax, 21, pleaded not guilty to killing UConn football star Jasper Howard and waived a probable cause hearing.

Lomax appeared in court on Wednesday and his case has been continued to Jan. 22, the Hartford Courant reports.

On Oct. 18, a fight over a girl outside a school-sanctioned dance ended in the death of a promising football star on the rise, according to warrants.

According to the affidavit, Howard and some of his UConn teammates were at a school dance, celebrating their win over Louisville earlier in the day when a scuffle broke out when one of the UConn players, Brian Parker, reportedly made some disparaging remarks about a woman.

Parker was stabbed in the fight, and the man who confronted him, 21-year-old Johnny Hood, was arrested for breach of peace and interfering with police.

As the fight was happening, another man pulled a fire alarm, causing the dance to break up. As the crowd dispersed, Howard and teammates got into a fight with 21-year-old Lomax and 18-year-old De'Quan Muhammad.

Witnesses told police that Howard, who teammates called Jazz, took a swing at Lomax before Lomax allegedly brandished a knife.

Devra Brown, a woman who said she knew Lomax, said Howard cried out "They got me! They got me!" before he collapsed from his wounds.

Howard's teammate, Michael Smith, also told police he saw Howard throw a punch at Lomax, then saw blood on Howard's shirt after the fight.

Howard later died from a stab wound to his abdomen at a nearby hospital.

Several people have been charged in Howard’s death.

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