Family Says Goodbye to Slain Football Star
UConn's Jasper Howard laid to rest in Miami
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It was a tearful goodbye for slain University of Connecticut football player Jasper Howard, who was laid to rest by family, friends and teammates at the New Birth Baptist Church in Miami today.
Hundreds flocked to the church to pay their last respects to the 20-year-old student who was stabbed early on the morning of Oct. 17 outside the University's student union.
Teammates arrived at the funeral in white buses, each carrying a white rose for their fallen friend who they called "Jazz." They all wore suits with the letters JH and the No. 6 on the jackets.
"Jazz will never be forgotten and we know he is looking down on us," said one of a group of childhood friends who stood up during the funeral to speak about their memories of Howard.
Kashif Moore, a teammate of Howard's at UConn, spoke for the team and told the hundreds in attendance "Jazz had the heart of a lion and Jazz would never back down from a challenge."
Howard's girlfriend was expecting the couple's first child. The baby, a girl, would have 105 uncles, Moore declared, speaking of the entire UConn football team.
"It's unfortunate his daughter won't be able to know him. But we'll have a lot of stories to tell," he said. "We'll all miss Jazz."
Howard, a standout at Edison High, grew up in Miami's Little Haiti neighborhood, and was a starting cornerback at UConn. He was the first in his family to go to college.
Teammates paid tribute to Howard this past Saturday before their game against West Virginia, bringing his helmet and jersey to the game and holding a moment of silence.
Police haven't charged anyone in the killing, though arrests may be coming, according to officials.
Copyright Associated Press / NBC 6 Miami
