Man Drowns At Howard's Party

A man drowned in a lake Saturday night after his personal watercraft capsized during a party hosted by Juwan Howard of the Washington Wizards.

Brian T. Patterson, 34, of Sauk Village, Ill., was found in 7 feet of water about 400 feet offshore by a conservation officer, Indiana Department of Natural Resources officer Jim Weeks said.

Weeks said Patterson was attending a party hosted by Howard, who rented the personal watercraft for his guests. A passenger on Patterson's craft and a rider and passenger on another craft tried unsuccessfully to find Patterson.

Police were called to the lakeshore about 7:30 p.m. and Patterson's body was found about 90 minutes later. He was not wearing a life jacket as required by state law, Weeks said, and alcohol may have been a factor in the drowning.

The Lake County Coroner's Office was conducting an autopsy.

Howard was a member of the so-called "Fab Five" when he starred at the Michigan. He is now an executive board member for the players union.

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