University of Connecticut starting cornerback Jasper Howard, 20, was fatally stabbed during a fight after a fire alarm was pulled during a university dance at the UConn Student Union just after 12:30 a.m. on Sunday.
The Miami native, who was the first in his family to go to college, was about to become a father and had helped his team to a homecoming victory against Louisville on Saturday, just hours before his death. Police have not identified a suspect but are asking anyone with information to contact the campus police at 860-486-4800.
Known as “Jazz” to his teammates, Howard often talked about his tough time growing up in Miami and his dream to play professionally so he could support his family. According to the Hartford Courant, his mother, Joangila, worked many jobs to support him and his sisters, Keyondra and Jasmine, who is afflicted with meningitis.
“He was a good child, a wonderful, sweet, loving child. I just hope whoever did it turns himself in. [Jasper] didn’t deserve this,” Ms. Howard said.
my condolences to his family….
so sad!!
My Prayesr are with the family
WORD CAN’T EXPRESS HOW HURT WE ARE, TO DEAL W/ THIS IS UNIMAGINABLE, EVERYONE WAS JUST TOGETHER AT THE LAST GMASH PARTY & I CAN STILL REMEMBER YOUR PRETTY SMILE, LIKE @ THE POLO PARTY WHEN U WERE ON STAGE W/ THE FAM, DAMN JAZZ I’M PRAYING FOR NEE-NEE & THE UNBORN…WE HERE & WE GON ALWAYS BE HERE LOOKIN OVER YO JAZZY GIRL & THE FUTURE BABY HOWARD, US, NEE-NEE & UCONN LOST ONE OF ITS BEST WE GON MISS U JIT.
GET MONEY AND STOP HATING, GMASH WE’RE A FAMILY FOREVER & ALWAYS JAZZ IN OUR HEARTS
RIP JASPER!
MEMORIAL TMWR WILL BE HELD @ MIAMI EDISON 7PM
For all those people insinuating, Jazz was not like that he respected
EVERYONE never thought he was better than anyone. He was a fun loving guy & no ppl aren’t saying this bc he’s dead I’m saying this bc I am a close friend and I knew Jasper, guys had problems w/ him & it was never the other way around, Jazz only had his mind set and it wasn’t on the haters, it was to better him self to better life for his family & his child. So stop w/ the ignorant assumptions bc he was a young black male who happened to be a star athlete, instead of hating you should do better for yourself.
Jazz we here GMASH, (gmash we throw it up like we tryna lose our gut) we a family not agng, we’re determined young black kids tryna do better for ourselves stop w/ the self hate.
RIP JAZZ!!! Missing u forever bruh
R.I.P. Jasper Howard…My condolences and prayers are with his family.
I personally did not know him but i am in college and very close to alot of the football players, they are like brothers to me. this story just makes me think about something like this happening to them and it is really saddening. we have had a football player stabbed at my school two years ago and it was not as fatal as this but still it all needs to stop. I know so many BOYS who are not confident in themselves and they take all of their hatred out on the players and i know some players who do the same to other players. it is just really sad and i wish that our generation would finally grow into MEN and handle their business, strive for something more than “slanging rock”, and actually be concerned about their future, family, and the type of inpact that they leave on this world. As a black woman it really makes me wonder what is going on.
~X~