A call for patience during investigation of campus stabbing

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — Authorities appealed for patience from two college communities reacting in shock, fear and anger after a white University of Maryland student was arrested in what police called the unprovoked stabbing of a black Bowie State University student.

Police and the FBI said they are investigating the killing of Richard Collins III as a possible hate crime, because the suspect, Sean Urbanski, became a member of a racist Facebook group several months ago.

Defense attorney William C. Brennan argued that since the 22-year-old had no criminal record, he should be allowed to live at home with a GPS monitor and receive alcohol abuse treatment while his case goes forward.

Lt. Col. Joel Thomas, who runs the ROTC unit at Bowie State, described Collins as intelligent, athletic, personable and with all the makings of an outstanding military leader.

[...] I know on Facebook our students are saying that, University of Maryland Police Chief David Mitchell said.

Gordon Johnson, who runs the FBI office in Baltimore, answered Mitchell's call for help investigating the stabbing as a possible hate crime after authorities learned that Urbanski was added to the Alt-Reich:

"If the evidence leads us to conclude this was a hate crime, then we will have no hesitation whatsoever handling it as such," Prince George's County State's Attorney Angela Alsobrooks said at a news conference.