More tributes, more investigating

More than a week after the stabbing death of University of Connecticut football star Jasper Howard, police said there are still no updates on the investigation, which was visible on campus last weekend.

When reached this morning, police said they could not comment further.

UConn Police Lt. Andrew Fournier said he was unable to comment on the investigation this morning, but confirmed there had not been any changes in the status of the investigation.

Currently there are no suspects in custody and police are still following leads.

Howard, 20, of Miami, was stabbed to death Oct. 18 on Hillside Road outside the Student Union.

Members of the UConn football program and university officials are in Miami today for Howard’s funeral service, which was to take place this morning at 11.

The service was to be held at the New Birth Baptist Church in Miami.

Those attending the service are expected to return back to Connecticut this evening.

Police expanded their investigation Friday as UConn and State Police canine units searched alongside Route 195 in the Horsebarn Hill area.

Police would not provide details as to what they were looking for, but Fournier confirmed Friday afternoon the search was part of the ongoing investigation of the stabbing death of Howard.

In addition, state police divers were seen investigating in Swan Lake, though officers had no comment about why they were in the lake.

Howard was attending a West Indian Student Organization party when a fire alarm was activated at 12:26 a.m.

As nearly 300 students and non-students were evacuated, an altercation broke out between a group of students and non-students. It was during that altercation that Howard was stabbed.

He died of a single stab wound to the abdomen, said the State’s office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Howard’s death was ruled a homicide.

While police continue the investigation, students continued the grieving process Saturday by coming together and watching to Huskies take on West Virginia in their first football game since Howard’s death.

Watching the game in the Student Union Theater, students had yet another opportunity to grieve the loss of the football team’s starting cornerback.

While some students cheered, some watched the game with tears streaming down their faces.

Last week, the UConn Co-Op, the campus bookstore, sold out of Howard’s No. 6 T-shirts and began taking pre-orders for the overwhelming demand of Howard jerseys.

As of Thursday afternoon, there were more than 60 pre-ordered shirts.

The shirts not only serve as a unifying garment for students, but they act as a fundraising tool for two funds established in Howard’s memory.

UConn’s Division of Athletics established “The Jasper T. Howard Endowed Scholarship Fund” and “The Jasper Howard Fund.”

The scholarship fun will be presented to a UConn football student-athlete annually. The selected player will be a cornerback who best displays the “outstanding leadership qualities that Howard embodied.”

The other fund will raise funds to support Howard’s family and his unborn child.
The shirts cost $20 each and $16 from each purchase will be donated to the two separate funds.

To donate to the scholarship, make checks payable to the UConn Foundation, Inc. and send them to P.O. Box 150430, Hartford, CT, 06115.

To donate to the other fund make checks payable to the Jasper Howard Fund and send the to People’s Bank, 2075 Hillside Road, Storrs, 06268.