
Sean Urbanski, a former University of Maryland student who stabbed and killed a Black Army lieutenant at a bus stop in May 2017, was sentenced to life in prison for what prosecutors said was a racially motivated hate crime.
A Prince George’s County Circuit Court judge handed down the life sentence for Urbanski, 25. However, the judge denied the prosecution’s request for a sentence without parole.
“I’m absolutely satisfied that justice was served,” said Maryland State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy, whose office prosecuted the case.
“I think it is highly unlikely that he will be paroled, at least anytime soon,” she added in an interview with NPR Friday. “However, the judge made that decision based on certain objective factors like the fact that this was his first offense.”
Urbanski, who is white, was convicted of first-degree murder in 2019 for the killing of Richard Collins III.
It took place on the University of Maryland, College Park campus while Collins was visiting a group of friends. As Collins was waiting for his ride-share vehicle to arrive, Urbanski approached the group, but targeted Collins.
He told Collins to step to the left. When Collins refused, Urbanski stabbed Collins in the chest, DCist reports.
Shortly before his death, Collins was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant in the U.S. Army.
He was killed three days before he was set to graduate from Bowie State University, a historically Black college located roughly 11 miles away from College Park, Md.
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SOURCE: NPR, Brakkton Booker