Gia LaFrance, 8, of Providence, attends last night’s vigil for her uncle, Richard Gibson.

The Providence Journal / Glenn Osmundson

PAWTUCKET — Evelyn LaFrance has a message she wants the public to hear: men as well as women are victims of domestic violence.

Last night, LaFrance and her family gathered in Pawtucket to honor the memory of her brother, Richard Gibson, a 22-year-old rapper and father of two who the police say was stabbed to death by his former girlfriend during an argument on Feb. 1. The police say Gibson was stabbed in his Thornton Street home by 21-year-old Misty Ospina after she dropped off their eight-month-old daughter. Ospina is charged with first-degree murder.

At the candlelight vigil, held outside Gibson’s house, a member of the Blackstone Valley Advocacy Center reminded the public that domestic violence can be potentially fatal, even for men. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, one out of 14 men has been assaulted by a current or former spouse, a partner, a girlfriend or boyfriend at some point in their lives.

“We’re here today to help bring closure for the family,” said Cindi Coburn, director of community services for the advocacy center. “We want to remember a person whose life was lost. We’re also raising funds for Richard’s funeral.”

Eulanda LaFrance described her brother, a rapper known as Richie Ragz, as someone who used his talent to do good. She said he was devoted to his two daughters, ages 4 and eight months, and determined to make something of his life. Although he had dropped out of Community Prep School, a private school in Providence that enrolls mostly urban youth, his family said he planned to get his general educational development diploma and attend college.

“Now, I’m a victim of domestic violence,” Eulanda LaFrance told the two dozen friends and well-wishers gathered in the Oak Hill section of Pawtucket. “Now I have two little girls without a mommy or a daddy.”

Earlier, Gibson’s mother, Denise Green, 59, of Pawtucket, said she had begged her son to leave Ospina because she said Ospina was jealous and possessive. The couple were together for four years but had broken up about four months ago, Green said.

“He wanted to become a famous rapper like Biggie,” Green said. “My message is that if you get hit once, that’s enough. Don’t stay with that person. You could end up hurt or dead.”

Evelyn LaFrance urged victims of domestic violence to pick up the phone and call organizations such as the Blackstone Valley Advocacy Center for help.

“No one pays attention to the men,” she said. “But don’t be embarrassed to come forward.”

Pawtucket Mayor James Doyle also turned out to lend his support for Gibson’s family and to underscore the prevalence of domestic violence.

In a statement, Linda Impagliazzo, executive director of the Blackstone Valley center, said society must hold all abusers accountable for the verbal abuse, emotional torment and physical violence they perpetrate on their victims.

“This case illustrates the fact that while their rates are much lower, men can also be victims of domestic violence,” she said. “Their experience is no less real than that of female victims and they deserve to be believed, supported and assisted.”

lborg@projo.com