Ex-Syracuse Football Player Charged in Stabbing of Two Current Players

A former Syracuse University football player was charged in the stabbing of two current Syracuse football players.

Naesean Howard, who was a defensive back at Syracuse before he was dismissed from the team in the fall of 2014, has been charged with two counts of assault in the second degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree, Syracuse.com reported.

Orange defensive backs Chauncey Scissum and Corey Winfield are the two victims Howard allegedly stabbed. Police arrived at the scene of the stabbing at a campus apartment shortly after 6 p.m. on Saturday, the newspaper reported. Both men were stabbed multiple times, but the circumstances of the stabbing were unclear. One victim was driven to the hospital in a private car while the other was taken to a local hospital by ambulance, Syracuse.com reported.

Scissum and Winfield remain hospitalized. Scissum’s father, Arthur Scissum, told the Rochester (N.Y.) Democrat and Chronicle, “Everything should be OK, be all right. He’ll be able to continue what he normally does in a short time.” Winfield was listed in stable condition.

Howard, listed as a sophomore in the university’s student directory, has been suspended from the university indefinitely.

“We are aware of this incident and our focus right now is on supporting our two students as they recover,” Kevin Quinn, Syracuse University senior vice president of public affairs, said in a statement. “The accused individual, who knew the victims, has been suspended from the university indefinitely. We do not tolerate any act of violence, and the safety of our campus and community is a top priority.”