Suspect charged in stabbing of Elkino Watson
Randolph Graham was charged with second-degree murder Wednesday night in the stabbing death of former USF football player Elkino Watson on Sunday at The Orpheum nightclub in Ybor City.
Tampa Police said Graham, 23, turned himself in Wednesday. He is also charged with attempted murder with a weapon for stabbing and wounding 22-year-old Desmond Horne, who is currently listed in stable condition.
During a non-university sanctioned after-party for USF’s 51-3 win over Florida A&M on Sunday at The Orpheum, witnesses told police that a man punched a woman — who identified herself Sunday in an interview with WFTS-TV as Diamond Hall, Watson’s girlfriend — when she refused to give him her phone number.
Watson then tried to speak with Graham about the incident outside the venue once the event ended. At some point, Graham removed his sunglasses as a fight started, produced a knife and attempted to stab Watson.
Then, when a fight broke out between Horne and another patron, Watson attempted to pull them apart. That’s when Graham approached Watson and stabbed him several times. He also cut Horne.
A witness pulled Graham away from Watson and he fled on foot. Watson, meanwhile, stumbled down East 7th Avenue, then south on 20th Street where he eventually collapsed.
Watson and Horne were both transported to Tampa General Hospital, where Watson later died from his injuries.
More Stories
USF professors weigh in after US strikes on Iran nuclear sites
Kyle Burke has seen the U.S. enter multiple Middle Eastern conflicts, such as Afghanistan in 2001 and Iraq in 2003. Still, he said he wasn’t surprised when he saw the U.S. enter another in June. Burke, a USF history professor, has been studying and teaching U.S. foreign relations for nearly two decades. “I had a […]
USF’s presidential search slowed in spring, now resumes with new firm
The USF presidential search committee announced this month its plans to move forward with a new search firm in its pursuit of a new university president. In May, USF spokesperson Althea Johnson told The Oracle that USF would move forward with its presidential search after its initial search firm — SP&A Executive Search — finished […]
USF rocket team takes flight in NASA competition despite challenges
In a field in Alabama, USF Society of Aeronautics and Rocketry members waited for Prometheus — the rocket they’d spent nine months crafting — to take flight. USF’s SOAR was among the 53 teams that launched their rockets for the NASA Student Launch in Huntsville on May 4. The USF team placed 18th after launching […]
USF international students navigate travel under new visa limitations
With a ban restricting visa issuance and entry into the U.S. in effect, USF student Arshia Esmaeilian said he is afraid his parents might not be able to see him graduate next year unless the ban is lifted. “I didn’t really ask for this,” said Esmaeilian, a senior chemistry major. “It’s just something I have […]
USF’s Marshall Student Center to reduce hours amid budget constraints
USF’s Marshall Student Center will operate under reduced hours starting in the upcoming fall semester. New operating hours will go into effect starting on Aug. 17 as listed below: Monday–Thursday: Changing from 7 a.m.–midnight to 8 a.m.–11 p.m. Friday: Changing from 7 a.m.–1 a.m. to 8 a.m.–midnight Saturday: Changing from 8 a.m.–1 a.m. to 8 […]
USF, Crisis Center step up hurricane prep as anxiety lingers from last season
With the arrival of hurricane season in Tampa, USF students – particularly those new to South Florida – may be experiencing increased stress or anxiety after the 2024 season. Running from June 1 to Nov. 30, hurricane season marks the period when tropical storms form and intensify in the Atlantic Ocean, according to the National […]