A grand jury in Maryland indicted Sean Christopher Urbanski today on one count of murder in the killing of a Bowie State University student on May 20.

The jurors in Prince George’s County handed the murder charge to 22-year-old Urbanski, who police say fatally stabbed Richard Collins III. The case has garnered national attention as detectives work to investigate if it was a hate crime.

The incident took place around 3 a.m. on the campus of the University of Maryland in College Park, where Urbanski was a student at the time.

Police say Urbanski approached Collins and group of friends, screaming to move out of his way. After Collins refused, police say Urbanski stabbed him in the chest and fled. Officials arrested Urbanski nearby after he was identified by witnesses.

Collins was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The murder happened two days after Collins, who is black, was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. He was slated to graduate from Bowie State University the following week—his father accepted the diploma in his place.

Local police and FBI officials began trying to determine if the incident is a hate crime after finding out that Urbanski, who is white, was a member of a Facebook group that posts racist content. The investigation is ongoing.

In response to the murder, UMD’s president announced several steps to tackle hate-bias incidents on the College Park campus.

Filed Under: richard collins, richard collins iii, sean urbanski,