PROVIDENCE, R.I. â The UMass Dartmouth student charged with murdering freshman football player Marvins Antoine entered the United States on a tourist visa in 2015 and later overstayed his authorized stay, federal law enforcement sources told Fox News.
The accused student, 19-year-old Chukuwnonso Uzoma-eze, subsequently received deferred action under both the Biden and Trump administrations, according to Fox Newsâs September 24 report. The disclosure comes days after Antoine, 18, was fatally stabbed and teammate Kensley Macean, 19, was injured during an altercation in Providence.
What is known about the suspectâs immigration history?
Foxâs sources said Uzoma-eze, a Nigerian national, entered on a B-2 tourist visa and received two extensions before his authorized stay expired. They said a request for deferred action was approved in September 2022. A later request was approved on October 8, 2025, after applications that year.
Fox reported that the Department of Homeland Security said Uzoma-ezeâs August 2023 application for employment authorization was rejected the following month. Another application, filed in February 2025, remains pending, according to DHS information reported by Fox. The outlet did not publish the underlying immigration records.
Deferred action is a temporary decision to delay a personâs removal; it does not grant lawful immigration status. Fox reported that DHS said Uzoma-eze would lose that protection if convicted of murder. The report does not establish that he received DACA, and his immigration history has not been identified by police as a motive.
Providence police confirm that Uzoma-eze faces a murder charge. âThe investigation remains active and ongoing,â the department said, adding that further charges may be filed as detectives review the evidence. He is accused of the crime and has not been convicted.
Police and family describe what happened
Officers responded to a parking-lot altercation at about 12:30 a.m. on September 19. Police said Antoine suffered stab wounds to the chest and died at Rhode Island Hospital. Macean was treated for head and neck injuries described as non-life-threatening. Both were UMass Dartmouth football players who had been with teammates at Mezzo Lounge.
Police Chief Oscar Perez said a dispute involving a woman and some people waiting to enter the crowded lounge moved to a nearby Wendyâs parking lot. He said there was no indication that the accused student knew the two players beforehand. Investigators used license-plate-reader information to help trace a vehicle, according to reporting on the police briefing. UMass Dartmouth police later took Uzoma-eze into custody.
Antoineâs sister, Stacie, spoke about their relationship in a statement shared with NBC 10. âHe was my best friend,â she said. âHe was the definition of a brother, he always made sure I was safe.â
In a family fundraiser, Stacie wrote that Antoine was trying to help a friend who was being attacked. Police have not confirmed that account in their public statement. She also remembered her brother as âsmart, easygoing, and always made people laugh.â
Antoine was a freshman running back from Boston who wore No. 26 and attended Durfee High School in Fall River, according to the UMass Dartmouth roster. Chancellor Mark Fuller said the university mourned alongside Antoineâs family, friends, classmates and teammates and expressed hope for Maceanâs recovery.
The new visa information follows the initial investigation into Antoineâs killing. Providence detectives say they are still interviewing witnesses and reviewing footage to establish the complete sequence of events.
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