DOCUMENT: College, Crime

Less Cowbell

Felony rap for collegian who rang up fellow student

View Document

Less Cowbell

FEBRUARY 12--Meet Brent Vowell.

The Mississippi college student was charged Wednesday with felony assault for allegedly throttling another student after a football game last year. The alleged weapon: A cowbell.

According to police, Vowell, a 23-year-old who attends Mississippi State University, attacked the victim with the steel instrument in the student section of MSU's Davis Wade Stadium after the school defeated arch rival University of Mississippi in the annual "Egg Bowl." The victim, William Brasher, 21, suffered a serious head injury in the cowbell attack, according to a court affidavit sworn by Detective Brad Massey.

Vowell's arrest for aggravated assault came two weeks after cops released a blurry photo (seen at left) of the suspect being sought in the November 28 incident. Brasher, an MSU student, was reportedly sitting in the stands with friends from Ole Miss when he was struck with the cowbell (Brasher was treated at a local hospital for a mild concussion and a head wound).

Vowell, free on $5000 bond, faces between one and 20 years in prison if convicted of the felony rap. (2 pages)