An 18-year-old football player from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth died early Saturday morning following a stabbing incident outside a Providence restaurant that also left a teammate injured, authorities said.
Marvins Antoine, a running back for the UMass Dartmouth football team, was pronounced dead at Rhode Island Hospital after sustaining multiple stab wounds to the chest, according to Kristy Dosreis, a spokesperson for the Providence Police Department. His teammate, 19-year-old Kensley Macean, suffered non-life-threatening injuries to the head and neck and was also taken to Rhode Island Hospital for treatment. Details about Macean’s condition were not immediately available Saturday afternoon.
Providence police identified Chukuwnonso Uzoma-Eze, 19, a fellow UMass Dartmouth student, as the suspect in the stabbing. Uzoma-Eze faces a murder charge related to the incident, Major David A. Lapatin, head of the Providence Police Investigative Division, confirmed. Uzoma-Eze was initially in custody with the university’s police department and has since been transferred to the Massachusetts State Police. Authorities said he is expected to be extradited to Rhode Island early next week.
The stabbing occurred shortly after midnight around 12:30 a.m. in the parking lot of the Wendy’s located at 391 Charles Street, according to the Providence Police Department. The violence reportedly began nearby at Mezzo Lounge, where Antoine, Macean, and other teammates had been gathered.
UMass Dartmouth spokesperson Ryan Merrill offered condolences to Antoine’s family, friends, classmates, and teammates, and extended wishes for Macean’s recovery. Antoine, a first-year student from Boston and a graduate of Durfee High School in Fall River, had earned recognition last year including an all-scholastic honor and a nomination for the Otto Graham award, which annually recognizes the top senior football player across 17 South Coast schools. Macean, also a first-year student, is a defensive back from Dighton and graduate of Dighton-Rehoboth High School currently pursuing a degree in Business and Engineering.
The university community and others have expressed shock and grief over Antoine’s death, with teammates, coaches, and residents sharing tributes on social media reflecting on his potential and promise. Providence police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the stabbing, conducting interviews and reviewing surveillance footage to establish the sequence of events.