Transcript for FBI investigates UMD stabbing as hate-based

We move to the tragedy at the university of Maryland. The FBI is now investigating a 22-year-old student for a possible hate crime after he allegedly stabbed another young student. ABC's Adrienne Bankert is on the scene for us there in college park, Maryland. Good morning, Adrienne. Reporter: Good morning to you, too, robin. The violence happening right behind us here at this bus stop at the edge of compulsion. There are a couple of candles still burning in memory of Robert Collins III. While many in the college community are grieving some say they might be closer to a motive. A student behind bars this foreign for a stabbing and now the FBI is investigating whether 22-year-old university of Maryland student Sean Christopher Urbanski committed a hate crime identified and taken into custody he is charged with the first degree murder of Richard Collins III, a university state senior. We came upon information within the last 12 hours that concerns us quite a bit with regard to it. Reporter: Investigators suspect the brutal killing was motivated by prejudice after police found Urbanski belongs to Facebook group alt-reich: Nation. Extreme bias against members of the jewish faith and especially African-Americans. Reporter: At around 3:00 A.M. Responding university officers discover Collins on a sidewalk suffering from serious injuries. Collins' two friends say they were waiting for an Uber at this bus stop at the edge of campus when Urbanski approached and stabbed Collins in his chest. He was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. Now, witnesses including Collins' friends say there were reports that Urbanski could be heard screaming at Collins saying step left if you know what's good for you and when Collins looked at him puzzled and said no, that's when reportedly Urbanski stapped him in the chest but still waiting for more details about their interaction leading up to that attack. We know there are unconfirmed reports there could be a bond hearing scheduled today. Robin. So tragic. Sickening story right there.

This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.