It was dark and around 3:00 a.m. on Saturday when 2LT Richard Collins III stood at a bus stop at the University of Maryland with friends.
UMD police said Sean Urbanski walked up and stabbed Collins in the chest.
Collins died at the hospital from what detectives first believed was a random attack, but further investigation revealed this may have been hate crime.
A growing memorial of flowers and candles sit at the @UofMaryland bus stop where Richard Collins was killed a few days ago @wusa9 pic.twitter.com/m8munONGJ8
— Michael Quander WUSA (@MikeQReports) May 23, 2017
On Sunday, police told WUSA9 Urbanski was a member of a racist hate group on Facebook
Urbanski faced a judge on Monday and was ordered to be held without bond.
Tuesday was the day Collins was supposed to graduate from Bowies State University.
Instead, his chair sat empty and his parent accepted the degree he earned but never got to see.
On Wednesday, WUSA9 obtained video of Collins being commissioned into the army just days before he was killed.
WUSA9’s Scott Broom also learned more about Urbanski on Wednesday and the possible double life he may have led in his hometown of Severna Park.
The killing sparked both sadness and outrage at Bowie State University and UMD.
Students held rallies, vigils, and demanded answers.
The University of Maryland responded with an action plan combating a culture of racism that appears to plague it’s campus.
The case is not being prosecuted at a hate crime right now.
That aspect is still under investigation.
Urbanski is due back in court on June 15th.
Man accused of killing Collins is sitting in jail this morning without bond. Police said he belonged to racist hate group on Facebook @wusa9 pic.twitter.com/iRvDPaWqj4
— Michael Quander WUSA (@MikeQReports) May 23, 2017
