A University of Maine student is being held on a murder charge in connection with a double stabbing in Florida that resulted in the death of a 23-year-old man.

Zedric Joseph, 23, of West Palm Beach was being held at the Richmond County Jail in Augusta, Ga., according to the jail. Joseph was brought to the jail shortly before 9:30 a.m. Wednesday on warrants out of West Palm Beach for one count of murder and two counts of aggravated assault, the jail officer said.

The Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office confirmed Wednesday afternoon that they had issued the warrant for Joseph. The Richmond County Jail officer said that Joseph was being held until West Palm Beach police arrive to pick him up and return him to Florida.

The Florida sheriff’s office confirmed that deputies received a report of a stabbing Friday in the 1600 block of Quail Lake Drive in West Palm Beach. When deputies arrived, they found two victims. A woman had been stabbed in the hand and a man had suffered multiple stab wounds.

Both were taken to St. Mary’s Medical Center.

The man, Ricardy Chery, 23, died from his injuries. The woman, Vashti Laurore, 23, was treated for her injuries and then released from the hospital.

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West Palm police are not releasing additional information.

Zedric Joseph of Palm Beach, Fla., is a senior majoring in child development and family relations at the University of Maine, according to a university spokesperson. He enrolled at UMaine in 2011 and was a member of the football team. He was listed as a running back.

Joseph was interimly suspended from the University of Maine on March 8.

“We were very saddened to learn that a University of Maine student has been arrested in connection with the death of one person and the injury of another in Florida,” said Kenda Scheele, UMaine assistant vice president and senior associate dean for students. “Our thoughts and prayers are with those whose lives have been forever changed by this horrific incident.”

“This is very hard to comprehend,” said UMaine football coach Jack Cosgrove. “We extend our deepest sympathies to the victims and their families and friends connected to this tragedy.”

Counseling and support services are being made available on campus to students and staff affected by these events.


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