Defendant in UM stabbing wants evidence barred

The man charged in the killing of a black student on the University of Maryland campus last year has asked a judge to exclude evidence tying him to a Facebook page called “Alt-Reich: Nation.” Sean Urbanski, 23, faces first-degree murder and hate crime charges in the death of Richard Collins III, a Bowie State University student who was visiting College Park last May when police say Urbanski fatally stabbed him. The evidence under consideration appears to be central to the question of whether Collins’ killing was racially motivated. After the May 20 incident, it quickly emerged that Urbanski, who is white, belonged to a now-deleted Facebook group where members would share racist memes. Collins, who was black, was waiting for an Uber at a campus bus stop around 3 a.m. when Urbanski approached him and his friends. Charging documents state that a seemingly intoxicated Urbanski told them, “Step left, step left if you know what's best for you.” After Collins refused, the documents state, Urbanski stabbed him in the chest. Collins was just days away from graduation when he died, and had been recently commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Angela D. Alsobrooks originally said her office didn’t have sufficient evidence to pursue hate crime charges, but after reviewing more materials from Urbanski’s phone and computer, she reversed her decision in October. In announcing the hate crime charge, Alsobrooks said she believed Collins was killed because of his race. Urbanski’s lawyers say they expect the state to try to introduce content from the white supremacist Facebook page — along with some cartoon images and a group message survey — as evidence during the trial. But they’re asking a judge to ban it, arguing that it’s not connected to the crime and would confuse the jury. “Those images, survey and Facebook page are particularly offensive, extremely prejudicial, highly inflammatory, irrelevant and not otherwise admissible,” lawyers William C. Brennan Jr. and John M. McKenna wrote in a motion filed Friday in Prince George’s County Circuit Court. John Erzen, a spokesman for the state’s attorney, declined to comment on the motion but said his office will make their arguments at a forthcoming hearing. A trial is scheduled for July. man he attempted to rob in downtown Baltimore early Monday, Baltimore police said. Police said the man was attempting to rob another 23-yearold man in the unit block of N. Howard St. at about 12: 25 a. m. when the intended victim stabbed and killed the suspect. The robbery victim stayed at the scene and waited for officers, police said. Police said they believe the killing to be justified self-defense but are waiting for a ruling from the state’s attorney’s office. About two hours later, police said, an 18-year-old man was injured in a shooting during an attempted robbery in Northeast Baltimore. Police were called at 2:26 a.m. to a local hospital where the man was being treated for a gunshot wound to his side. He told police he had been in the area of Strathmore Avenue and Harford Road when an unidentified person approached, attempting to rob him.Citywide Shooting detectives are asking anyone with information to call them at 410-396-2221 or Metro Crime Stoppers at 1-866-7LOCKUP.