A fellow UMass Dartmouth student faces a murder charge as investigators examine an altercation that began near a crowded Providence nightclub.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — An 18-year-old University of Massachusetts Dartmouth football player was killed and a teammate was wounded in a stabbing early Saturday after an altercation near a Providence nightclub, police said. A 19-year-old fellow student has been arrested and faces a murder charge.
Marvins Antoine, a freshman running back, was taken to Rhode Island Hospital after suffering stab wounds during the confrontation and later died, authorities said. His teammate, 19-year-old freshman defensive back Kensley Macean, was also hospitalized with injuries that police described as non-life-threatening. Providence police identified another UMass Dartmouth student, Chukuwnonso Uzoma-eze, 19, as the suspect in Antoine’s death. The charge is an allegation, and the case has not been adjudicated.
The violence unfolded at about 12:30 a.m. Sept. 19 after Antoine, Macean and other members of the football team went to Mezzo Lounge on Charles Street following the Corsairs’ Friday night home game against Framingham State. Police Chief Oscar Perez said the nightclub had reached capacity and stopped letting additional patrons inside while a crowd remained outside.
Perez said an altercation began involving a woman and some of the people waiting near the club. The dispute then moved to a nearby Wendy’s parking lot, where the stabbings occurred. Investigators said they had found no indication that Antoine and Macean knew Uzoma-eze before the encounter. Police were continuing to interview witnesses, review surveillance video and examine other evidence to establish the full sequence of events.
Investigators said Uzoma-eze left the area in a vehicle after the confrontation. Police used license plate reader information to identify the vehicle and track it, Perez said. UMass Dartmouth police later located Uzoma-eze on campus and took him into custody. He was subsequently held in Massachusetts while authorities worked to return him to Rhode Island to face the murder charge.
As of Monday morning, police said Uzoma-eze remained in Massachusetts pending the legal process required for his return to Rhode Island. Authorities said additional charges could be filed as detectives continue reviewing evidence. Police have not announced a final determination about what prompted the dispute or described Antoine or Macean as having any prior relationship with the accused student.
The Providence licensing board also ordered Mezzo Lounge closed for 72 hours following an emergency hearing, according to local reports citing police. Another licensing hearing was expected Tuesday. Police said the venue had been hosting an event promoted by a Massachusetts-based promoter when it reached capacity before the confrontation outside.
Antoine was a Boston resident and graduate of Durfee High School in Fall River, Massachusetts, according to UMass Dartmouth’s athletic roster. He was listed as a 5-foot-10, 180-pound freshman running back wearing No. 26. Friends and former teammates told local news outlets that he had quickly developed a reputation as a supportive teammate and role model for younger players.
Friends, classmates and teammates gathered on the UMass Dartmouth campus Saturday night for a vigil in Antoine’s memory. Those attending honored his No. 26 and shared memories of him with local reporters. His sister, Stacie Antoine, described him in a family statement as someone who consistently looked after her and other people close to him. A fundraiser established to help the family with funeral expenses had received thousands of dollars in donations by Sunday.
UMass Dartmouth Chancellor Mark A. Fuller said the university community was mourning Antoine and expressed support for Macean’s recovery. The university made counseling services available to students following the killing. School officials said they had no reason to believe there was an ongoing threat to the UMass Dartmouth community.
The investigation remained active Monday. Providence police were continuing to determine the events that led to the confrontation while authorities worked through the process of bringing Uzoma-eze to Rhode Island to face the murder allegation. No final court disposition had been reached.
Author note: Last updated September 21, 2026.