By: Undria Wilson
A Bowie State student was honored at his graduation ceremony Tuesday after his untimely death.
Richard Collins III, a black student, was stabbed to death Saturday at the College Park campus of the University of Maryland days before obtaining his degree.
Collins was just commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army and “prided himself on his time and in his ROTC unit on being the top runner in his PTs,” his father, Richard Collins, Jr. told NBC 4 Washington.
Twenty-two-year-old Sean Christopher Urbanski, a University of Maryland student, was charged with the murder of Collins.
According to the court documents obtained by NBC 4, Collins was waiting for the university’s shuttle bus with his friends around 3 a.m. when they realized the shuttle bus had stopped running for the night. Collins and his friends then called an Uber.
Urbanski approached the group and reportedly said, “Step left, step left if you know what’s best for you.” Collins allegedly responded by saying “no.”
Urbanski, who is said to have ties to the Alt-Reich community, continued to approach Collins and his friends. He then pulled out a knife with a 3-to 4-inch silver blade and stabbed Collins once in the chest, NBC 4 reports.
The gown of Collins, 23, was draped over a chair in the front row and his family accepted his business administration degree.
According to Time Magazine, Bowie State President Mickey Burnim asked graduates to remember Collins.
“Let us pause now in a moment of silence and contemplation of what each of us might do to promote greater peace, harmony and love that seems to be so lacking in our country and our world today,” he said.
Indeo Ragsdale, a friend of Collins from Bowie State’s ROTC program, said the day was full of sadness from losing him, but also the happiness of having known him and the many lives he touched.
Authorities have appealed for patience from both college communities as they investigate the background of Urbanski. Police are considering it a possible hate crime because Urbanski became a member of a racist Facebook group several months ago.
Lt. Col. Joel Thomas, who runs the Bowie State ROTC unit, said at a vigil Monday night that Collins could have been an outstanding military leader.
“Richard cared deeply about his friends, cared deeply about others and he was exactly what we are looking for when we’re selecting officers for the United States Army,” Thomas said.
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan posted Monday on Facebook that the person responsible must be fully prosecuted.
“Violence and hatred have no place in our communities and will never be tolerated,” he said.
