The UMass Dartmouth freshman was remembered as a promising athlete, loyal friend and role model. A teammate was also wounded in the attack.
By Le Floridien Staff |
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The Haitian-American community is mourning the death of Marvins Antoine, an 18-year-old freshman football player at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth who was fatally stabbed early Saturday morning in Providence.
Antoine, a running back for the UMass Dartmouth Corsairs, was stabbed in the chest during an altercation that began near Mezzo Lounge and later moved to the parking lot of a nearby Wendy’s restaurant on Charles Street, according to Providence police.
He was transported to Rhode Island Hospital, where he later died.
Another UMass Dartmouth freshman and football player, 19-year-old defensive back Kensley Macean, was also stabbed. Police said Macean suffered injuries to his head, neck and left arm, but his wounds were not considered life-threatening.
Although Macean’s name is common within the Haitian community, Le Floridien has not independently confirmed his family heritage and is therefore not identifying him as Haitian at this time.
Altercation moved from nightclub area
Antoine, Macean and several of their teammates had traveled to Providence after UMass Dartmouth’s home football game against Framingham State on Friday night.
Providence Police Chief Oscar Perez said the incident apparently began with an altercation involving a woman and some of the victims who were waiting near the nightclub. The confrontation later continued across the street in the Wendy’s parking lot.
Police said there was no indication that Antoine and Macean knew the alleged attacker before the incident.
Investigators used license-plate-reader cameras to identify a vehicle that reportedly left the scene. That information led authorities to UMass Dartmouth, where campus police arrested 19-year-old student Chukuwnonso Uzome-Eze.
Uzome-Eze, who was not a member of the football team, is facing a murder charge. At the time of this report, he was being held in Massachusetts while Providence authorities sought his extradition to Rhode Island for arraignment.
The charge remains an allegation, and Uzome-Eze is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. Police said the investigation remains active and additional charges could be filed.
Following an emergency hearing, the Providence Board of Licenses ordered Mezzo Lounge closed for three days.
A promising life cut short
Antoine, who wore jersey number 26, had only recently begun his first year at UMass Dartmouth. He was from Boston and had graduated from Durfee High School in Fall River, Massachusetts.
Friends and former teammates remembered him as an outgoing and loyal young man who dreamed of one day playing in the National Football League.
Former teammates described Antoine as a leader and role model who looked out for younger players. Others called him a peacemaker who was always able to make those around him laugh.
His younger sister, Stacie Antoine, described him as her best friend and someone who was always available when she needed emotional or financial support.
A fundraising campaign was established to assist the family with funeral expenses.
Students, friends and teammates gathered Saturday evening for a vigil on the UMass Dartmouth campus. Participants released balloons and chanted Antoine’s jersey number in his memory.
UMass Dartmouth Chancellor Mark Fuller expressed condolences to Antoine’s family, friends, classmates and teammates. He also offered prayers for Macean’s recovery and said university officials hoped the injured student would soon be able to resume his education.
The university said there was no reason to believe an ongoing threat existed on campus and made additional counseling services available to students.
For the Haitian-American community, Antoine’s death represents the heartbreaking loss of another promising young life, an 18-year-old student-athlete who had just started college and appeared to have a bright future ahead of him.
