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McKeldin Library and fountain, University of Maryland

Source: John Grein / Getty

A white University of Maryland student was charged with first-degree murder Sunday in the fatal stabbing of Richard W. Collins III, The Baltimore Sun reports. The incident is now being investigated by authorities as a possible hate crime.

According to The Sun, Sean Christoper Urbanski, 22, is a member of a racist Facebook group called “Alt-Reich Nation.” The page, which had four “likes” as of press time, is branded by statuses that include—but are not limited to—”So many Anti-Whites who think Black on White Crime is acceptable!” and “Black on White violence is an epidemic.” University Police Chief David Mitchell told The Sun they discovered Urbanski’s affiliation with the group on Sunday.

“When I look at the information that’s contained on that website, suffice it to say that it’s despicable, it shows extreme bias against women, Latinos, persons of Jewish faith and especially African-Americans,” Mitchell said.

The Sun also reports the attack followed “a series of racist incidents at the college in recent months.” In early May, The Sun notes, a noose was found inside a fraternity house. Earlier this year, posters “promoting nationalism” were found around the campus.

Collins, 23, was visiting the University of Maryland at the time of the incident and would have graduated from Bowie State University this week. School officials and a spokesman for Collins’ family said the slain young man, who completed ROTC while in school, was also commissioned a second lieutenant in the Army on Thursday.