Freshman Marvins Antoine died and teammate Kensley Macean was wounded as police arrested another university student on a murder charge.
PROVIDENCE, RI — A University of Massachusetts Dartmouth freshman football player was killed and a teammate was wounded in a stabbing early Saturday after an altercation near a Providence nightclub, police said. Another UMass Dartmouth student was arrested and faces a murder charge.
Marvins Antoine, 18, a first-year running back, was taken to Rhode Island Hospital after suffering stab wounds to the chest and later died, according to police and the university. Kensley Macean, 19, a freshman defensive back, was hospitalized with injuries to his head, neck and left arm that police described as not life-threatening. Providence police identified 19-year-old UMass Dartmouth student Chukuwnonso Uzoma-eze as the suspect in Antoine’s killing.
The confrontation unfolded shortly after midnight Sept. 19 after Antoine, Macean and other members of the UMass Dartmouth football team went to Mezzo Lounge in Providence. Police Chief Oscar Perez said the club had stopped allowing additional patrons inside because it was over capacity. Investigators said an altercation involving a woman and some of the players began outside the establishment and later moved to a nearby Wendy’s parking lot on Charles Street.
Police responded to the parking lot at about 12:30 a.m. and found the two injured players. Antoine was rushed to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Macean was also taken to Rhode Island Hospital for treatment. Police had not announced a more recent public update on his condition as of Sunday, but university officials expressed hope that he would recover and return to school.
Perez said investigators had no indication that Antoine and Macean knew Uzoma-eze before the confrontation. Authorities used surveillance information and license plate-reading cameras to identify a vehicle connected to the suspect after he left the scene, police said. Uzoma-eze was later located at UMass Dartmouth and taken into custody by campus police.
Authorities said Uzoma-eze faces a murder charge in connection with Antoine’s death. The Boston Globe reported that Providence police said he was later transferred to Massachusetts State Police custody and was expected to be brought to Rhode Island to face the charge. The case remains under investigation, and the charge is an allegation; Uzoma-eze has not been convicted in the case.
Providence investigators have continued interviewing witnesses and reviewing surveillance footage and other evidence as they work to establish the full sequence of events. Police have said additional charges could be filed as the investigation develops. Officials have not announced evidence indicating that the confrontation was planned or that the people involved had a prior relationship.
Antoine was a freshman running back from Boston and a graduate of Durfee High School in Fall River, Massachusetts, according to UMass Dartmouth’s athletics program. Macean is a first-year defensive back from Dighton, Massachusetts, and graduated from Dighton-Rehoboth High School. Both were beginning their first season with the Division III Corsairs.
UMass Dartmouth Chancellor Mark A. Fuller said the university community was mourning Antoine and supporting Macean and his family. “Our hearts and prayers are very much with Marvins’ family, friends, classmates, and teammates as we mourn his loss together,” Fuller said. He also offered wishes for Macean’s recovery and said the university hoped he would be able to resume his education.
Former teammates and members of Antoine’s community also remembered him after his death. CBS Boston reported that former Durfee teammate Orlando Delgado described Antoine as a loyal teammate who often spoke about his hopes of playing professional football. UMass Dartmouth officials said they had no reason to believe there was an ongoing threat to the campus community.
Providence police said the investigation remains active as detectives review evidence and prepare the case for further court proceedings. Authorities had not announced additional charges by Sunday afternoon.
Author note: Last updated September 20, 2026.