PROVIDENCE — A UMass Dartmouth student accused in the fatal Sept. 19 stabbing of a college football player in Providence appeared in court Monday, where his attorney said video evidence shows his client was not the aggressor and acted in self-defense.
Attorney: video shows defendant backing away
Noah Kilroy, the attorney representing the defendant identified in court as Chukwunonso Uzoma-Eze, told reporters after the hearing that his client was "not the aggressor." Kilroy said he has video showing Uzoma-Eze "backing up, stating, ‘Don’t touch me! Don’t touch me! Don’t touch me!,’" and that his client was surrounded by several football players at the time.
“I have video of him backing up, stating, ‘Don’t touch me! Don’t touch me! Don’t touch me!,’”
Kilroy declined to provide further comment in court and called the matter "100 percent a self-defense case," according to court reporting. He also said he respects the victim's family and declined to discuss who may have provoked the exchange.
Court appearance and charges
In Providence District Court, Uzoma-Eze stood before Judge Stephen Isherwood shackled and wearing navy blue prison clothing and slip-on sandals as two felony charges were read: one count of murder and one count of assault. No plea was entered, consistent with common practice for felony arraignments in Rhode Island.
The judge ordered Uzoma-Eze held without bail and issued a no-contact order barring any contact between him and the victim identified in court as Macean. Court officials said the case is expected to be transferred to Providence County Superior Court for a bail hearing.
Background details provided by authorities
Law enforcement and immigration records published in court filings indicate Uzoma-Eze is a Nigerian national who entered the United States in March 2015 at Logan Airport in Boston when he was 7 years old. According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he later had his immigration status extended and most recently applied for deferred action in 2025; that deferred action was approved in October 2025 and is set to expire in October 2027.
Court records list his last known address as Boston's Hyde Park neighborhood. Police reports also note that he is known by aliases including "Chizzy" and "David," and that spellings of his name differ across Massachusetts and Rhode Island records.
Sequence of events as publicly reported
Police reports allege the confrontation began outside Mezzo Lounge and continued into a Wendy's parking lot on Charles Street. The altercation, according to those reports, involved an initial dispute between a female and some of the victims who were in line outside the club before the situation escalated.
Authorities have not released additional details about what the video shows beyond Kilroy's characterization, nor have prosecutors publicly commented on the defense attorney's statements. No further evidence was entered at Monday's arraignment.
What happens next
The case will proceed to Superior Court, where a bail hearing is expected. A Superior Court schedule will determine subsequent pretrial dates and whether prosecutors will file additional charges or provide more detailed evidence to the defense and the court.
- Defendant: Chukwunonso Uzoma-Eze, UMass Dartmouth student
- Charges: Murder and assault (felony)
- Court action Monday: Held without bail; no-contact order issued
- Next step: Transfer to Providence County Superior Court for bail hearing
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Arraignment judge | Stephen Isherwood |
| Attorney for defendant | Noah Kilroy |
| Immigration status | Entered U.S. March 2015 at age 7; deferred action approved Oct. 2025 (expires Oct. 2027) |
As the case moves forward, court filings and scheduled hearings will be the primary sources for additional verified information. Prosecutors, defense counsel and court clerks are the official channels for records and statements as the matter proceeds through the Rhode Island judicial system.
This report is based on court appearance coverage and publicly available records provided by law enforcement and immigration officials during Monday's proceeding.
