The Stabbing Death of UConn Football Player Jasper Howard

(Mybrotha.COM) - On Sunday October 18, 2009 just shortly after midnight on the campus of the University of Connecticut, Jasper Howard a Connecticut football player was stabbed to death following a sanctioned school dance at the UConn Student Union. http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4578563.

Jasper Howard a junior starting cornerback for the Huskies had left his hometown of Miami, Florida to play football in Connecticut in order to get away from the violence that had consumed his Miami neighborhood. Jasper Howard was the first person in his family to go to college. Adding insult to the tragedy, Howard and his girlfriend were expectant parents. "Jazz" as he was called by family and friends, was looking forward to providing a better way of life for his girlfriend and their unborn child.

UConn police Major Ronald Blicher said Monday morning that no arrests have been made and authorities are looking at suspects following the stabbing early Sunday morning; however, current information has been leaked that a Bloomfield, Connecticut man will soon be arrested in connection to Howard's death.

Connecticut football coach Randy Edsall gathered the team together at their training facility at 6 AM on Sunday morning to discuss the tragic death of their teammate. Confusion, anger and sadness were the mixed emotions among coaches and players. Desi Cullen, punter and team captain stated, "As Jazz looks down on us, I can promise him and his family, that Jazz's son or daughter will have 105 uncles. We will do what it takes to get through this tragedy; we will grow from this loss".

Police authorities said that the star athlete was stabbed following a fight between two groups that included students and non-students. The altercation broke out just after a fire alarm went off in the student center, forcing the evacuation of about 300 people, from a "Welcome Back" party and dance which was sponsored by the school's West Indian Awareness Organization.

As another young life has been needlessly taken away by violence, parents must wonder if crimes involving murder, rape, kidnapping, and assault have become all too common a subject matter for our children to digest as they attempt to deal with life outside of the sanctuary of their home. Week after week it seems as though young adults are subjected to one horror story after the next. In lieu of the crazy world that we live in, the question must be asked, "Has innocence been permanently lost in this current culture of violence and retaliation"? Are American youth becoming de-sensitized to violence? When children and young adults leave home every morning to go off to school it has become a necessity for responsible parents to warn their children of the dangers that lurk behind every corner and every shadow.

It's virtually impossible for parents to watch over their children every minute and every hour of the day, however, it has become mandatory for caring parents with the aid of school officials, clergy and other positive role models to continuously talk to young adults about the beauty of life and what life has to offer through hard work and dedication. Unfortunately each day, millions of kids in America find it necessary to carry some type of weapon with them as a form of protection as they maneuver through life's dangerous obstacles. Do we remember a time not so long ago when only bad kids carried knifes? To date, we're loosing the battle of saving of children from violence.

Regardless of race, socio-economic status and home environment, young adults today live a life on the edge of killing or becoming killed. If you have a child or you interact with young adults, please take the time to talk to them about options other than violence. Parents and adults can win this battle if we take the time to honestly talk with our youth.

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