LI Man Sentenced For Binghamton University Stabbing Death

A Long Island man was sentenced to 20 years to life on Monday for stabbing a 19-year-old Binghamton University student to death on campus in April, according to Broome County District Attorney Steve Cornwell.

Michael M. Roque, 20, stabbed Joao Souza, an engineering student from Rye Brook, several times over a girl they both liked on Sunday, April 15, according to press connects.

"And it is clear, Roque deserves to spend the rest of his life in prison," Cornwell said in a statement.

Roque, a Massapequa resident and a graduate of Syosset High School, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in September, the publication reports.

Roque dated a girl in high school and later transferred to Binghamton to attend the same college as her, BU Pipe Dream reports. Souza began dating the girl, which was the motive behind Roque's stabbing, according to the student publication.

Souza apologized to Roque for dating the girl in his last words, press connects reports.

Surveillance photos of the suspected stabber, later identified as Roque, with a mask over his face were released by Binghamton University Police.

Roque, prior to entering a plea deal, said he was "backed into a corner" by his lawyer to plead guilty, reports say. Read more from press connects and Pipe Dream.

Images via Binghamton University