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White Supremacist stabs Black man to death just days before graduation from Bowie State
UPPER MARLBORO, MD (January 14, 2021) – Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy today announced that Sean Urbanski (age 25) was sentenced to life in prison for stabbing 23-year-old 1st Lt. Richard Collins, III to death on the campus of the University of Maryland at College Park (UMD) in 2017.
Urbanski was found guilty of First Degree Murder by a Prince George’s County jury on December 18, 2019.
On May 20, 2017, 1st Lt. Richard Collins, III, an African American graduating senior at Bowie State University and a commissioned officer of the U. S. Army, was out with friends celebrating his upcoming graduation. While waiting at a bus stop on UMD’s campus, Lt. Collins was singled out by Urbanski, a member of the Alt Reich Nation social media group. Urbanski walked up to Lt. Collins and said “Step left. Step left if you know what’s best for you.” Collins replied “No,” and Urbanski stabbed him with a knife that lodged 3 ½ inches into his chest. Lt. Collins later succumbed to his injuries and Urbanski was taken into custody.
“I want to commend my principal deputy, Jason Abbott, and my homicide chief, Jonathon Church who I assigned to handle this case for their amazing work and for securing justice for 1st Lt. Richard Collins, III, the Collins’ family, Bowie State University and the entire community. Today’s sentencing sends a message to the entire country that crimes of hate will not be tolerated and those who engage in these crimes will face severe punishment. This was an ugly and unprovoked attack on an accomplished young Army lieutenant who was targeted because he was Black. Today, Mr. Urbanski was held accountable for his savage and racist actions,” Braveboy said. “To the Collins family: I pray that you can now find some peace and justice in the resolution of this case. I know the road has been long and I commend you for enduring and staying the course through it all. To the students of Bowie State University and the University of Maryland, it is my hope that this tragedy will inspire you to draw from your own strength and lead the fight against hate so that no one else has to do die because of the color of their skin.”
State’s Attorney Braveboy will be hosting a virtual town hall, entitled “Hate in America & At Home” in late February.