On Saturday, a reputed racist and supposed member of a white-supremacist Facebook group allegedly
stabbed to death a young black second lieutenant in the U.S. Army who was standing with friends on the campus of the University of Maryland.
Richard Collins III, a senior at Bowie State University who was going to graduate on Tuesday, was at a bus stop with two friends near the University of Maryland's Montgomery Hall on Regents Drive about 3 a.m. He and his friends realized the shuttle bus they were awaiting had stopped its service, and called for an Uber.
According to court documents, the group heard Sean Christopher Urbanski, 22, screaming. Urbanski approached them, and reportedly threatened, “Step left, step left if you know what's best for you.” As Urbanski neared the group, Collins refused to move.
One member of the group saw Urbanski brandishing a 3- to 4-inch silver blade before Urbanski plunged it into Collins’ chest. The friend then ran to call 911; she also asked the Uber driver to call 911 while other friends attempted to help Collins, who died later at a hospital.
Urbanski, sitting on a bench at a bus stop about 50 feet from the stabbing, was apprehended by two police officers; witnesses identified him as the suspect. Police said he had been drinking; they did not know whether he was also under the influence of drugs.
Police authorities said
surveillance cameras showed the attack. Urbanski, 22, has been charged with first and second-degree murder and first-degree assault.
On Sunday, University of Maryland Police Chief David Mitchell confirmed he is working with the FBI, as Urbanski is reputedly a member of a Facebook group called "Alt Reich: Nation," where racist remarks are posted. He stated, "Suffice it to say that it's despicable. It shows extreme bias against women, Latinos, members of the Jewish faith and especially African Americans … I'm not aware of any increase in threats here on campus, but certainly and increase in fear," Mitchell said. "If I'm a person of color, I would certainly look at this as something that could happen to me. In fact, I know on Facebook our students are saying that.'' He stated, “It never gets any worse than this. I sat with the victim’s father, who is a military veteran, and his pastor and we shed tears together. I can tell you, it rips your heart out.”
Gordon Johnson, special agent in charge of the FBI field office in Baltimore, added, "We are here to evaluate that as an ongoing concern with respect to whether or not this was a hate crime.”
The Rev. Darryl L. Godlock, pastor at Calvert County Baptist Church in Prince Frederick, Md., is the family’s spokesman. He said, “The parents are totally devastated that their young son, that was at the peak of his career about to take off, and his life was taken away senselessly.” He added that Bowie was a member of ROTC andwas airborne-certified. Collins had been commissioned last week as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army in the intelligence branch. Godlock said sadly, “Richie was a fun, loving young man. He loved his family and he loved his God. He
also said, "He wanted to make his parents proud of him so he went into the military to serve his country. It was a great opportunity for him to advance forward and make the most out of his career.”
Artie L. Travis, vice president for student affairs at Bowie State, said, “Hate has no place in America. Hate has no place on a college campus where young minds are coming together to try to change the world. They can’t change the world if they are not here. We are looking forward to the quickest investigation as possible.”
Reputed White Supremacist Allegedly Brutally Stabs And Murders Young Black U.S. Army Lieutenant
screenshot from Twitterscreenshot from Twitter
BY: HANK BERRIEN MAY 22, 2017
On Saturday, a reputed racist and supposed member of a white-supremacist Facebook group allegedly stabbed to death a young black second lieutenant in the U.S. Army who was standing with friends on the campus of the University of Maryland.
Richard Collins III, a senior at Bowie State University who was going to graduate on Tuesday, was at a bus stop with two friends near the University of Maryland's Montgomery Hall on Regents Drive about 3 a.m. He and his friends realized the shuttle bus they were awaiting had stopped its service, and called for an Uber.
According to court documents, the group heard Sean Christopher Urbanski, 22, screaming. Urbanski approached them, and reportedly threatened, “Step left, step left if you know what's best for you.” As Urbanski neared the group, Collins refused to move.
One member of the group saw Urbanski brandishing a 3- to 4-inch silver blade before Urbanski plunged it into Collins’ chest. The friend then ran to call 911; she also asked the Uber driver to call 911 while other friends attempted to help Collins, who died later at a hospital.
Urbanski, sitting on a bench at a bus stop about 50 feet from the stabbing, was apprehended by two police officers; witnesses identified him as the suspect. Police said he had been drinking; they did not know whether he was also under the influence of drugs.
Police authorities said surveillance cameras showed the attack. Urbanski, 22, has been charged with first and second-degree murder and first-degree assault.
On Sunday, University of Maryland Police Chief David Mitchell confirmed he is working with the FBI, as Urbanski is reputedly a member of a Facebook group called "Alt Reich: Nation," where racist remarks are posted. He stated, "Suffice it to say that it's despicable. It shows extreme bias against women, Latinos, members of the Jewish faith and especially African Americans … I'm not aware of any increase in threats here on campus, but certainly and increase in fear," Mitchell said. "If I'm a person of color, I would certainly look at this as something that could happen to me. In fact, I know on Facebook our students are saying that.'' He stated, “It never gets any worse than this. I sat with the victim’s father, who is a military veteran, and his pastor and we shed tears together. I can tell you, it rips your heart out.”
Gordon Johnson, special agent in charge of the FBI field office in Baltimore, added, "We are here to evaluate that as an ongoing concern with respect to whether or not this was a hate crime.”
The Rev. Darryl L. Godlock, pastor at Calvert County Baptist Church in Prince Frederick, Md., is the family’s spokesman. He said, “The parents are totally devastated that their young son, that was at the peak of his career about to take off, and his life was taken away senselessly.” He added that Bowie was a member of ROTC andwas airborne-certified. Collins had been commissioned last week as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army in the intelligence branch. Godlock said sadly, “Richie was a fun, loving young man. He loved his family and he loved his God. He also said, "He wanted to make his parents proud of him so he went into the military to serve his country. It was a great opportunity for him to advance forward and make the most out of his career.”
Artie L. Travis, vice president for student affairs at Bowie State, said, “Hate has no place in America. Hate has no place on a college campus where young minds are coming together to try to change the world. They can’t change the world if they are not here. We are looking forward to the quickest investigation as possible.”
"I can tell you, it rips your heart out.”
University of Maryland President Wallace D. Loh led graduates and their families in a moment of silence during commencement ceremonies Sunday at Xfinity Center. He stated after the commencement, “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends, and with the entire Bowie State University community. We want to get to the heart of this matter. It is number one, it is justice for Second Lieutenant Collins. Number two, the sense of safety. Our students, our faculty, our staff are understandably concerned and apprehensive.
