Freeman said police searched his client’s home in Bloomfield and removed some items. Freeman said police told him that his client and others would be arrested.
Police “have indicated to me that they expect to get a warrant for his arrest,’’ he said. “I’m not sure if I would say that he was in the wrong place at the wrong time, but I could say that he was not involved in the actual stabbing of Mr. Howard.’’
It would be the second arrest connected to the stabbing, which occurred hours after Howard starred in UConn’s homecoming victory over Louisville.
Johnny Hood, 21, of Hartford, was arraigned yesterday on charges of interfering with an officer and breach of peace, but he has not been charged in Howard’s death.
Authorities said Hood gave a false name when he was questioned. His bond initially was set at $100,000, but that was reduced yesterday to $10,000.
Hood’s lawyer, Justin Freeman, said at the arraignment that his client is a full-time dental assistant and a part-time student at Capitol Community College, who was “at the wrong place at the wrong time,’’ and did not know a homicide had occurred.
Deron Freeman, who is Justin Freeman’s brother, declined to say whether his client knows Hood, but he said there were at least a half-dozen UConn football players with Howard at the time of the stabbing.
Hood was pointed out to police at the scene by another UConn player, Brian Parker of Sarasota, Fla., who also was stabbed but sustained minor injuries. The wide receiver, who is academically ineligible to play this season, was treated and released from a local hospital.
Coach Randy Edsall said two other players tried in vain to save Howard’s life.
“One had Jasper in his arms and the other was pressuring where the wound went in and had blood on his hands,’’ Edsall said. “And those two young men are pretty deeply affected right now.’’
Sophomore receiver Kashif Moore said he was the player who held Howard until help arrived. He said he did not think his friend was going to die.
“He was like in and out [of consciousness],’’ Moore said. “I didn’t have time to be scared.’’
