Now we know a little more of the rest of what’s quickly turned into a very disturbing story.
Reports surfaced Sunday morning that two current Syracuse defensive backs, Chauncey Scissum and Corey Winfield (pictured), were stabbed by a former Orange defensive back, Naesean Howard. Monday, details of the frightening incident were revealed.
According to witnesses, Howard went into an unprompted “rage” shortly after showing up at an on-campus barbecue celebrating an SU student’s birthday, first stabbing Scissum near his jaw. Winfield, one of five or six ‘Cuse football players in attendance, intervened on his teammate’s behalf and was stabbed multiple times in the arms, chest and ribs.
From the Syracuse Post-Standard:“Everybody was out there chilling,” the friend said. “No one was drunk.
“It literally just happened out of nowhere,” the friend said. “It came out of nowhere. There was no argument before. It just happened.”
The friend said Winfield then stepped in front of Howard to keep him away from Scissum, who recently had surgery and was not in a position to defend himself.
“Chauncey couldn’t hit him at all,” the friend said. “Chauncey had one arm.
“At the end of the day, if there is a big savior in this whole situation, it’s Corey Winfield. He put his life on the line for his best friend.”
Scissum and Winfield remain hospitalized, although both are expected to fully recover from their wounds. On Twitter, Scissum proclaimed both he and his teammate as “good.”
Me and @c_xi_w are good ! God got us both. #Warriors
— Big Scizz (@Proto_21) April 17, 2016
Howard, meanwhile, was charged with two counts of assault in the second degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree. The 20-year-old was officially arraigned Monday morning.
In 2014, Howard “parted ways” with the Orange football program, although he remains enrolled as a student at the school.