PROVIDENCE — Chukuwnonoso Uzoma Eze, a 19-year-old University of Massachusetts Dartmouth student who is not on the football team, was arrested and charged with murder in connection with the stabbing death of Marvins Antoine. Antoine, an 18-year-old freshman running back for the university's football team, died from stab wounds to the chest at Rhode Island Hospital following the incident in Providence.

The fatal attack occurred in the parking lot of a Wendy's restaurant in Providence, Rhode Island, after an altercation began at the Mezzo Lounge nightclub around midnight. Kensley Macean, a 19-year-old freshman defensive back for the UMass Dartmouth football team, was wounded in the same incident and sustained non-life-threatening injuries to his head, neck, and left arm.

Perez stated that Flock cameras were used to identify the vehicle Eze used to flee the scene, which led investigators to locate him on campus. The police chief also noted there was no indication that the suspect and the victims knew each other prior to the confrontation.

Former high school teammates and community members remembered Antoine for his character. Xavier Gracia, a former high school teammate, described him as a good person and like an older brother to his peers. "He was just a good person all around. He was like an older brother to everybody, to all of us, like my friends, and just everybody in the grade," Gracia said.

Why It Matters

The death of a collegiate athlete and the injury of a teammate highlight the vulnerability of students even in public spaces near campus venues. The use of Flock camera technology by law enforcement demonstrates how digital surveillance networks are increasingly central to solving violent crimes and locating suspects who attempt to flee across municipal boundaries.

The university's immediate response, including the provision of counseling services and official statements from administration, reflects institutional protocols for managing trauma within student bodies. The arrest of a fellow student who was not part of the athletic program reflects that the violence involved individuals from the same educational institution but different social circles, as indicated by police statements that they did not know each other.

Timeline

On September 18, 2026, the incident occurred hours after the UMass Dartmouth football team lost a home game to Framingham State. On September 19, 2026, Providence Police Chief Oscar Perez stated, "There was an altercation between a female and some of the victims that were in line. And then the altercation moved over to the parking lot of the Wendy's but we have no indication that they knew each other." Also on September 19, 2026, Marvins Antoine, an 18-year-old freshman running back for the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth football team, was killed in a stabbing.

On September 19, 2026, UMass Dartmouth Chancellor Mark Fuller issued a statement expressing condolences to Marvins Antoine's family and friends and wishing Kensley Macean a recovery. Later that day, Providence Police Chief Oscar Perez stated that Flock cameras were used to identify the vehicle Chukuwnonoso Uzoma Eze used to flee the scene, which led investigators to locate him on campus. On September 19, 2026, Kensley Macean, a 19-year-old freshman defensive back for the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth football team, was wounded in the same incident.

Also on September 19, 2026, UMass Dartmouth Chancellor Mark Fuller said, "Our hearts and prayers are very much with Marvins' family, friends, classmates, and teammates as we mourn his loss together. We also send our prayers and best wishes for Kensley's recovery, and hope that he will be able to resume his education here soon." Finally, on September 19, 2026, Chukuwnonoso Uzoma Eze, a 19-year-old University of Massachusetts Dartmouth student who is not on the football team, was arrested and charged with murder in connection with the stabbing.