Marvins Antoine cause of death: UMass Dartmouth football player dies at 18

Marvins Antoine, an 18-year-old University of Massachusetts Dartmouth football player, died after being stabbed in Providence, Rhode Island , early Saturday, according to police and university officials.

Antoine , a freshman running back from Fall River, Massachusetts, had been with fellow UMass Dartmouth football players at Mezzo Lounge on Charles Street on Friday night. Police said an altercation later moved outside and across the street to the parking lot of a nearby Wendy's at about 12:30 a.m.

Two UMass Dartmouth players were stabbed during the incident. Antoine suffered stab wounds to his chest and was transported to Rhode Island Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

Another freshman player, 19-year-old defensive back Kensley Macean, was also hospitalized. His injuries to the head, neck and left arm were described by police as non-life-threatening.

The circumstances that led to the confrontation remain under investigation. Providence police said an altercation involving a woman and people waiting in line at the nightclub preceded the incident.

Authorities have also said they currently have no indication that Antoine and the suspected attacker knew each other.

What is known about the investigation

Police arrested 19-year-old UMass Dartmouth student Chukuwnonoso Uzoma Eze on campus following the stabbing. Eze isn't a member of the football team.

He was being held by UMass Dartmouth police while arrangements were made to bring him to Rhode Island to face a murder charge, according to Providence police.

Investigators said Flock camera footage in the area helped them identify the vehicle allegedly used to leave the scene. That information reportedly assisted authorities in locating Eze on the UMass Dartmouth campus.

Police haven't released a complete account of what triggered the confrontation or described the full sequence of events leading to the stabbing. The investigation remains active, and additional details could emerge as authorities continue their work.

UMass Dartmouth said there was no known ongoing threat to its campus community following the incident. University officials expressed condolences to Antoine's family, friends, classmates and teammates, while also wishing Macean a full recovery.

“We are heartbroken to share that first-year student and football team member Marvins Antoine passed away this morning following an incident in Providence, Rhode Island,” read a statement from the football team.

“Our thoughts are with Marvins' family, friends, classmates, and teammates.”

Antoine had graduated from B.M.C. Durfee High School in Fall River before beginning his college career at UMass Dartmouth. He'd only recently joined the university's football program and hadn't appeared in the team's game against Framingham State on Friday evening, just hours before the fatal incident.

Antoine's death has left his family, friends, classmates and teammates mourning a young athlete whose college journey had only just begun.

Police continue to investigate the events surrounding the confrontation, while the murder case against the arrested student moves forward.