Arrest made in stabbing death of former Booker T. football player in Tampa

The suspect in the stabbing death of a former Booker T. Washington High football player turned himself in Wednesday, police said.

Randolph Graham, 23, faces charges of second-degree murder with a weapon in the death of Elkino Watson early Sunday in Ybor City and attempted murder with a weapon in the stabbing of another man.

Late Saturday, Watson and friends went to a party at the Orpheum nightclub on East Seventh Avenue related to the USF-Florida A&M University football game, Tampa police said. While there, Graham asked for the phone number of a woman Watson knew, but she refused, police said. Then Graham punched the woman, they said.

After the event, attendees went outside. Watson and Graham argued, police said, and Graham took off his sunglasses. A fight broke out, and witnesses told police that Graham pulled out a knife and tried to stab Watson.

Meanwhile, a man named Desmond Horne was fighting with another bar patron. Police said Watson was trying to pull them apart when Graham stabbed him, also cutting Horne.

Graham then stabbed Watson a few more times, police said, until a witness pulled him away.

Graham ran off, and Watson headed in the same direction before collapsing on 20th Street.

With video from witnesses, detectives were able to identify the people in the fight. After they pinpointed Graham, his lawyer got in touch with police.

"We were able to piece a few things together, and it led us right to Mr. Graham," said Capt. Ruben Delgado.

He turned himself in at police headquarters about 7 p.m. Wednesday, accompanied by his lawyer. Delgado said Graham had "no violent history."

Horne survived his injuries.

Delgado said police are still searching for the other people involved in the fight.

"We got a lot of cooperation from the community in this case," he said.

Watson, 23, of Miami was a standout defensive lineman whose college career at the University of South Florida ended last season. He had participated in a Chicago Bears minicamp ahead of the upcoming NFL season but did not make the team.

The Orpheum on Saturday held what it billed as the official after-party for the USF-FAMU game, a Bulls season-opening 51-3 rout of the Rattlers. School officials have said it was not a USF-sanctioned event.

This story was originally published September 10, 2015 at 6:44 AM with the headline "Arrest made in stabbing death of former Booker T. football player in Tampa."