Louisville cornerback Tayon Holloway has been suspended indefinitely from all team activities after being charged with first-degree strangulation, a Class C felony, and fourth-degree assault for dating violence, the school announced in an emailed statement.
The possible penalty for first-degree strangulation is five to 10 years in prison.
“The University of Louisville is aware of the arrest of football student-athlete Tayon Holloway,” the statement said. “As we gather more information, Tayon has been suspended indefinitely from all team activities.”
Holloway was arrested Sunday evening and arraigned Monday, pleading not guilty to the charges. His bond was set at $10,000 with a no-contact order assigned.
According to the citation, officers were dispatched to an apartment on Shelburne Circle on Sunday around 9 p.m. after “a call for assistance with a 911 hang-up.” When the victim called back, they were crying but said they were no longer having any problems and that help was no longer needed.
Upon arrival at the apartment, the report states that the parties inside were uncooperative but agreed to allow officers to search the apartment. When one of the officers made contact with the victim, she suffered a laceration to her upper lip and swollen eyes, “often associated with crying,” the report said.
The victim told the officer that Holloway was about to smoke marijuana in his room when she grabbed it. Holloway became angry, threw the victim off the bed onto the floor and “began punching her in the face with a closed fist,” the report said. The victim tried to protect herself with a lamp nearby and then placed a pillow over her face.
According to the report, Holloway pressed the pillow over her face and nose because what the victim said felt like “a long time, about 10 seconds.” The victim felt like she was going to lose consciousness and started crying. Holloway then removed the pillow from the victim's face and “began throwing her out of the room and began pushing and pulling her toward the exit of the apartment,” the report said. During this time, the victim used a mirror to protect herself, but the mirror broke in the process.
Cardinals linebacker Jurriente Davis was listed as a witness in the indictment.
Holloway, a transfer from North Carolina, has played in all 10 of the Cardinals' games this season with four starts. He has 16 total tackles and five pass breakups to his name this year.
Reach Louisville football, women's basketball and baseball beat writer Alexis Cubit at [email protected] and follow her on X at @Alexis_Cubit.
This article originally appeared in the Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville football: DB arrested, charged with strangulation and assault
