Two Football Players Arrested for Violent Fight at URI Frat House

Two University of Rhode Island football players were arrested, several others are under investigation and multiple Chi Phi fraternity brothers were hospitalized after a major disturbance at the frat house early Sunday.

URI Public Safety Director Stephen Baker said that the injured were taken to South County Hospital for broken noses, cuts and reports of broken arms and jaws.

Charged were Barrett Lyons, 19, of Belmont, Mass., and Michael LeBlanc, 20, of Charlton Mass. Each face charges of simple assault and disorderly conduct and more charges might be forthcoming, Baker said.

Five other URI football players are being investigated for their role in the disturbance, which happened after the team lost to Brown University on Saturday night.

Police said a URI officer near the frat house early at Fraternity Circle on Sunday morning heard yelling and screaming at around 3 a.m.

Seven football players were leaving the scene in a pickup truck with it headlights off, police said.

Police have not completed their investigation, which appears to initially show that the football players came to the house and either weren’t allowed in or forced entry before a large fight broke out.

URI spokeswoman Linda Acciardo said that one of the players has been kicked off the football team and two others are suspended indefinitely. The remaining players are suspended from this week’s game against Delaware and are under investigation.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Det. Mark Brasil at 401-874-5580.

Lyons and LeBlanc will be arraigned next week.

Photo: Barrett Lyons, at right and Michael LeBlanc, at left, were arrested for their alleged role in a fight at a URI frat house early Sunday morning.