Report: Teammates started fatal fight

STORRS, Conn., Nov. 8 (UPI) -- A fight last month at a University of Connecticut dance that left a UConn football player dead involved two teammates' disputes with three men, sources say.

Although school authorities and police have revealed little information about the Oct. 18 fight outside the university's student center that left Jasper Howard dead, unnamed law enforcement sources, court documents and witness interviews indicate the slaying was sparked by a fight started by two of Howard's teammates, The Hartford (Conn.) Courant reported Sunday.

Citing unnamed sources, the newspaper said police view Brian Parker and A.J. Portee, two redshirt freshmen on UConn's football team, as "the aggressors" in a fight with the three Bloomfield, Conn., men, including John Lomax, 21, who were attending a hip-hop dance at the student union.

Investigators reportedly believe Lomax and two companions got into a disagreement with Parker and Portee during the dance. After someone pulled a fire alarm and the attendees spilled into the area outside the building, Lomax went to his car to retrieve a knife and returned to stab Howard.

Lomax has been charged with murder. The Courant said Howard's role in the disagreement is still unclear.