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A student at SUNY Binghamton pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder after being accused of fatally stabbing of another student in a residence hall Sunday night.
A public defender representing Michael Roque, 20, entered the plea Monday, according to CBS New York.
Roque was accused of stabbing Joao Souza, 19, in Windham Hall around 10:30 p.m., the college wrote in a news release Monday. Souza was pronounced dead at Wilson Trauma Center later that night.
Law enforcement said Monday they believe the suspect targeted Souza. “Throughout the investigation it became quickly evident to us that this was not a random act,” Timothy Faughnan, university police chief, said at a news conference. “I have to leave it at that for now.”
Souza's parents, located in Brazil, were notified of their son’s death Monday morning, Brian Rose, vice president for student affairs, said at the news conference.
All Monday classes were canceled in response to the incident. Classes are expected to resume today.
Souza's death marks the second time a Binghamton student has been killed this semester. Haley Anderson, 22, was strangled to death in March.
