STORRS, Conn. — Police have charged a Connecticut man with the murder of a University of Connecticut football player outside a school-sanctioned dance, but his defense attorney says he was just trying to break up a fight.

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

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

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

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