Facebook
Jake Wascher has been charged in the stabbing of 2 fellow students.
Jake Wascher has been charged in the stabbing of 2 fellow students.
Jake Wascher has been charged in the stabbing of 2 fellow students.
Jake Wascher has been charged in the stabbing of 2 fellow students.
Jake Wascher has been charged in the stabbing of 2 fellow students.

2 students stabbed at University of Hartford residence hall

April 2, 2019
Student allegedly stabbed classmates while they were filming a movie scene.

A student at the University of Hartford in Hartford, Conn., has been accused of stabbing two classmates while they filmed a movie in a campus residence hall.

The Hartford Courant reports that Jake Wascher, 20, is being held on $1 million bond. He has been charged with two counts of attempted murder and two counts of first degree assault.

Police say Wascher told them he was “curious what it would be like to stab someone," but later said he was acting and his emotions got the best of him.

Officials would not say why Wascher was hospitalized. He suffered minor scratches on his face after running from the crime scene through woodland and swamp, but he was not physically harmed when he was taken into custody.

A 19-year-old University of Hartford student from South Windsor suffered wounds in his chest and back. He was in critical condition at St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center. A 21-year-old student from New Fairfield suffered a puncture wound in his chest and four in his back. He was treated at a hospital and released.

Police received a 911 call at about 1:30 p.m. Sunday regarding a reported stabbing at the university. 

Responding officers found the two male victims suffering from multiple stab wounds.

According to his Facebook profile, Wascher enrolled in the university’s Hartt School seeking a Bachelor of Fine Arts in acting. He previously attended California State University Fullerton.

In a statement Sunday night, University of Hartford President Gregory S. Woodward said he was “deeply saddened and troubled” to inform the community of the “isolated but serious incident” at the school.

“Although this was a contained and personal assault, I realize this act is extremely upsetting,” Woodward said. “Sadly, university and college campuses are not immune to the challenges that have become too common in society today.”

Sponsored Recommendations

How to design flexible learning spaces that teachers love and use

Unlock the potential of flexible learning spaces with expert guidance from school districts and educational furniture providers. Discover how to seamlessly integrate adaptive ...

Blurring the Lines in Education Design: K–12 to Higher Ed to Corporate America

Discover the seamless integration of educational and corporate design principles, shaping tomorrow's leaders from kindergarten to boardroom. Explore innovative classroom layouts...

Room to Learn: Furniture Solutions for Education

Preparing students for the future. Utilizing our experience in the education market, we offer a dynamic selection of products that pair technology with furniture to help stimulate...

Transforming Education: A Case Study in Progressive Classroom Design

Discover how Workspace Interiors and the Baldwin School District reshaped learning environments in Long Island, New York, creating pedagogically responsive spaces that foster ...