(AP) - Police have charged a Connecticut man withthe murder of a University of Connecticut football player outside aschool-sanctioned dance, but his defense attorney says he was justtrying to break up a fight.

Two others also were charged in the fight that led to thestabbing death of 20-year-old Jasper Howard, of Miami.

Police say 21-year-old John William Lomax III is charged withmurder and conspiracy to commit assault.

Police say they also charged 20-year-old Hakim Muhammad, ofBloomfield, with conspiracy to commit assault, and 21-year-oldJamal Todd with pulling a fire alarm that emptied the Oct. 18dance, triggering the fight.

Lomax's attorney says his client wasn't present when theargument started, but tried to break up the fight.