Stabbed Dean at Penn Valley

So by now you've probably seen how this young "anarchist" stabbed a Dean in the neck over at Penn Valley Community College yesterday. What a waste. Pretty bizarre. I see today how he's been charged with "two counts of first-degree assault and two counts of armed criminal action". My question? Why wasn't he charged with attempted murder? It seems as though it fits the crime. Wouldn't that be a heavier, more severe but still appropriate charge? Just asking. If there are any law students out there, let me know your input. Link: http://www.kansascity.com/2010/09/14/2224279/self-described-radical.html

Doesn't this point out a big problem on the East side?

A small article in the Star today: Charges filed in fatal stabbing Prosecutors on Tuesday charged Cornelius C. Payne, 32, with second-degree murder and armed criminal action in the fatal stabbing Monday of Andrew M. Suttington, 23, in the 2800 block of Highland Avenue. Granted, unfortunately, nothing extraordinarily unusual there, for any part of the city. But here's the crux of the story and problem for the city as it occurs to me: Arriving officers reported a "large, angry uncooperative crowd of relatives and friends" at the scene. What? Are you kidding me? A guy is stabbed, ultimately fatally, and the relatives and friends are "angry" and "uncooperative"? Can you explain that to me? I mean, can you explain that to me calmly, truthfully and logically, without getting or being racist? A relative or friend of yours is stabbed, the cops show up to sort it all out and you give them hell? Does that make any sense at all? Link to original story: http://www.kansascity.com/2010/09/07/2205859/stabbing-victim-had-argued-with.html