Arrest Made in Former USF Football Player's Death

The Tampa Police Department has announced an arrest in the stabbing death of former University of South Florida football player Elkino Watson.

Randolph Graham, 23, was brought into custody Wednesday on second-degree murder with a weapon and attempted murder with a weapon charges. Tampa Police say Graham, accompanied by his lawyer, turned himself in at Tampa Police headquarters.

Witnesses to the stabbing told police Watson, 23, and friends were at a USF v. FAMU football game after-party at the Orpheum Bar, 1915 E. 7th Ave. in Ybor City, when the incident began to unfold. A man, an email to media from the police department said, approached a woman and asked for her number. When she refused, the man punched her in the face.

The woman, police said, was known to Watson.

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When the event was over, patrons gathered outside along 7th Avenue around 2:45 a.m. At that time, Watson and Graham began to speak to each other, police wrote.

“Graham removed his sunglasses as they spoke and a fight started,” the email said. Graham is then accused of pulling out a knife.

As the scuffle between Graham and Watson began, Waton’s friend, Desmond Horne, 22, began fighting another man.

“Watson attempted to pull the two apart when he was approached by the suspect, and stabbed,” the email said. Police say Graham also stabbed or cut Desmond at that time.

“Graham disengaged, and then went after Watson again, stabbing him several more times,” the email said.

A witness managed to pull Graham away from Watson. Graham fled east on 7th Avenue. Watson also went east on 7th before heading south on 20th Street where police say he collapsed.

Watson and Horne were taken to a local hospital for treatment. While Horne suffered non-life-threatening injuries, Watson died a short time later.

Watson was a former defensive lineman whose career with the Bulls ended in 2014. He was a four-year letterman at the school and played 45 career games, starting in 19.

Booking photo courtesy of the Tampa Police Department