Killing of O'Shae Sibley explained

Killing of O'Shae Sibley
Location:Midwood, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Time: 11:00 p.m.
Timezone:EST
Type:Stabbing, violence against LGBT people
Victim:O'Shae Sibley
Accused:17-year-old male
Charges:

On July 29, 2023, O'Shae Sibley, a 28-year-old gay man, was stabbed and later died as a result of an incident outside of a Mobil gas station in Midwood, Brooklyn, New York, United States. He and his friends were confronted by a group of individuals for playing Beyoncé music and voguing. The suspect accused of the stabbing was identified as a 17-year-old, who turned himself in to police custody on August 4, 2023, and was later charged with second-degree murder as a hate crime.

Background

The victim, 28-year-old O'Shae Sibley, was a professional dancer and choreographer born on September 1, 1994.[1] [2] He was one of eleven siblings in his family.[3] Prior to moving from Philadelphia to Brownsville, Brooklyn in 2020 to pursue career opportunities,[3] [4] [5] he had been a part of Philadanco since his teenage years.[6] [7] As a part of an all-queer dance group that he joined for a video project called "Vogue 4 #BlackLivesMatter",[4] he performed at Lincoln Center.[8] According to those who knew Sibley, he regularly danced in public.[7] Sibley used his dance skills not only for artistic purposes, but to advocate for social change as well.[5]

Incident

On the evening of July 29, Sibley, accompanied by a group of friends, had been refueling their vehicle at a Mobil gas station on Coney Island Avenue in Midwood, Brooklyn, New York, following a day spent beachgoing at the Jersey Shore to celebrate a friend's birthday.[9] [10] [11] Sibley and his friends were playing Renaissance by Beyoncé and vogueing,[1] when a group of people exited the convenience store and approached them,[6] telling them to stop dancing while hurling homophobic slurs and racist statements against them,[12] [13] and accused them of being offensive to their religion.[4] A witness quoted one member of the group who said "we're Muslim, I don't want you dancing".[9] Sibley then confronted the group[1] and attempted to deescalate the situation.[14] An argument ensued and Sibley was ultimately stabbed by one of the teenagers.[1] Sibley sustained a stab wound to the torso and, after receiving first aid from his friends, was rushed to Maimonides Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead.[15] Otis Pena, a friend of Sibley who was with him at the time of his killing, said "they murdered him because he was gay, because he stood up for his friends," in a video posted to Facebook.[16]

Shortly following the stabbing, a GoFundMe was created by Sibley's father to fund his funeral.[3] On August 8, 2023, Sibley's funeral was held in Philadelphia, where he grew up.[17]

Accused

The accused was described as a teenager with dark hair, wearing a black shirt and red shorts.[18] The incident is being investigated as a potential hate crime by NYPD detectives.[19] The suspect, a 17-year-old high school student who was seen fighting Sibley on surveillance footage prior to his stabbing,[14] turned himself in to the police with his attorney on August 4, 2023.[20] [21] He reportedly has a criminal past, which is sealed due to his underage status. It was originally reported that during the altercation, the suspect claimed he identified as Muslim and said that he took offense to Sibley's dancing.[22] Later, the suspect's lawyer informed media that his client is a Christian.[23] According to a witness, the accused as well as those with him said homophobic slurs.[24] He was charged with second-degree murder as a hate crime as well as criminal possession of a weapon,[25] [26] and was held without bail.[27] If convicted, he faces 20 to 25 years imprisonment.[28] He has pleaded not guilty, and is being charged as an adult.[29]

Reactions

The stabbing was called a hate crime by New York City Mayor Eric Adams,[30] [31] who also vowed to find the perpetrator.[32] The killing has been condemned by LGBTQ lawmakers and activists, including New York State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal, who expressed being "heartbroken and enraged to learn about O'Shae Sibley's death" in a tweet.[14] Beyoncé, the artist whose music Sibley and his friends were playing at the time of the incident, paid tribute to Sibley on her website, which features the phrase "rest in power O'Shae Sibley".[33] Those who paid tribute to Sibley also include Spike Lee, Club Cumming, a gay bar,[32] and ballroom communities in Los Angeles[34] and New York,[35] who staged protests and vigils to remember Sibley. On August 3, Sibley was honored by 80 mourners at the Stonewall Inn, a bar regarded as being of key importance to the gay rights movement.[36] On August 4, hundreds of people gathered at a vigil held at the scene of Sibley's death to mourn, celebrate his life,[37] and protest. Titled "Vogue as an Act of Resistance," it featured individuals who vogued in Sibley's memory.[38] [39]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Cramer . Maria . Parnell . Wesley . Man Fatally Stabbed in Confrontation as He Danced at a Gas Station . The New York Times . 31 July 2023 . 1 August 2023 . 1 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230801042152/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/31/nyregion/stabbing-gas-station-brooklyn.html . live.
  2. Web site: Obituary for O'Shae Leon Sibley . Nicole M. Bartlett Funeral Home & Cremations Inc. . 8 August 2023 . en . 7 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230807233751/https://www.nmbartlettfuneralhome.com/obituary/OShae-Sibley . live.
  3. News: McMenamin . Lexi . LBGTQ+ Community Mourns Brooklyn Dancer Killed While Vogueing . 1 August 2023 . Teen Vogue . 1 August 2023 . 1 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230801171840/https://www.teenvogue.com/story/oshea-sibley-stabbing-death . live.
  4. News: Mzezewa . Tariro . O'Shae Sibley Was Stabbed to Death After Dancing . 1 August 2023 . The Cut . 1 August 2023 . en-us . 1 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230801203732/https://www.thecut.com/2023/08/oshae-sibley-stabbing-gay-brooklyn.html . live.
  5. News: Rodriguez . Matthew . O'Shea Sibley, a Beloved Dancer, Killed After Vogueing at Brooklyn Gas Station . 1 August 2023 . Them . 1 August 2023 . 1 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230801171152/https://www.them.us/story/oshea-sibley-black-gay-man-dancer-stabbed . live.
  6. News: Levesque . Brody . Out Black dancer O'Shae Sibley killed, NYPD probe as hate crime . Los Angeles Blade: LGBTQ News, Rights, Politics, Entertainment . 31 July 2023 . 1 August 2023 . 1 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230801043553/https://www.losangelesblade.com/2023/07/31/out-black-dancer-oshae-sibley-killed-nypd-probe-as-hate-crime/ . live.
  7. News: BRANDT . JOE . PETRILLO . MATT . Beyonce honors dancer O'Shae Sibley after stabbing death investigated as hate crime - CBS Philadelphia . 2 August 2023 . www.cbsnews.com . 2 August 2023 . 2 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230802115301/https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/beyonce-honors-oshae-sibley-philadelphia-dancer-killed-vogueing-in-nyc/ . live.
  8. News: Parascandola . Rocco . Exclusive: Killed for vogueing: Sibley's pal says victim died in his arms after stabbed at Brooklyn gas station in anti-gay hate crime: 'Not going to live hiding' . The Brunswick News . New York Daily News . 31 July 2023 . en . 1 August 2023 . mdy-all . 1 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230801042154/https://thebrunswicknews.com/news/national_news/exclusive-killed-for-vogueing-sibley-s-pal-says-victim-died-in-his-arms-after-stabbed/article_6aace4f3-5f24-50a2-8249-ab88a1d90533.html . live.
  9. News: Kriegstein . Brittany . Dancer's killing at a Brooklyn gas station under investigation as hate crime . 6 August 2023 . Gothamist . New York Public Radio . 31 July 2023 . 5 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230805182408/https://gothamist.com/news/dancers-killing-at-a-brooklyn-gas-station-under-investigation-as-hate-crime . live.
  10. News: Saad . Nardine . Beyoncé pays tribute to O'Shae Sibley, the dancer who died after vogueing to her music . 2 August 2023 . Los Angeles Times . 2 August 2023 . 2 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230802152528/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2023-08-02/la-et-beyonce-dancer-tribute-oshae-sibley . live.
  11. News: Blanco . Andrea . O'Shae Sibley tributes pour in as search for suspect in Brooklyn stabbing continues . 4 August 2023 . The Independent . August 2, 2023 . en . 4 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230804014907/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/crime/oshae-sibley-killer-instagram-vogueing-beyonce-b2386776.html . live.
  12. Web site: Friends gather in Philadelphia to remember O'Shae Sibley, killed in a confrontation over dancing . AP News . August 9, 2023 . August 8, 2023 . Police said the teens used homophobic slurs and made anti-Black statements. . August 9, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230809123731/https://apnews.com/article/oshae-sibley-funeral-philadelphia-dancer-stabbed-dadfe8a5835e37d94d87caede58d8a6e . live.
  13. News: Chudy . Emily . Gay man stabbed to death in Brooklyn by gang of men after voguing at gas station . 1 August 2023 . PinkNews . 1 August 2023 . 1 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230801133422/https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/08/01/oshae-sibley-brooklyn-gay-man-stabbed-to-death-petrol-station/ . live.
  14. News: Lavietes . Matt . Sheeley . Colin . Sopelsa . Brooke . Fatal stabbing of NYC gay man is being investigated as a possible hate crime . 1 August 2023 . NBC News . 1 August 2023 . en . 1 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230801150657/https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-news/fatal-stabbing-nyc-gay-man-investigated-possible-hate-crime-rcna97495 . live.
  15. News: Blanco . Andrea . Gay man is fatally stabbed while dancing to Beyoncé at Brooklyn gas station . 1 August 2023 . The Independent . 1 August 2023 . en . 1 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230801171402/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/crime/oshea-sibley-stabbing-murder-hate-crime-b2385681.html . live.
  16. News: Alfonseca . Kiara . Deadly stabbing of gay man at NYC gas station investigated as potential hate crime . 1 August 2023 . ABC News . August 1, 2023 . en . 1 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230801160731/https://abcnews.go.com/US/deadly-stabbing-gay-man-nyc-gas-station-investigated/story?id=101895258 . live.
  17. News: Thomas . TaRhonda . Funeral held for O'Shea Sibley, professional dancer killed in hate crime . 9 August 2023 . 6abc Philadelphia . 8 August 2023 . en . 9 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230809205458/https://6abc.com/oshae-sibley-stabbing-philadanco-dancer-stabbed-funeral-services-brooklyn-gas-station/13617741/ . live.
  18. News: NYPD: O'Shae Sibley, 28, stabbed to death in suspected hate crime at Brooklyn gas station - CBS New York . www.cbsnews.com . 31 July 2023 . 1 August 2023 . 1 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230801042153/https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/nypd-oshae-sibley-28-stabbed-to-death-in-suspected-hate-crime-at-brooklyn-gas-station/ . live.
  19. News: Green . Kendall . NYPD's Hate Crimes Unit probing Saturday's stabbing as possible hate crime . FOX 5 NY . 31 July 2023 . 1 August 2023 . 1 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230801042153/https://www.fox5ny.com/news/nypds-hate-crimes-unit-probing-saturdays-stabbing-as-possible-hate-crime . live.
  20. News: Tucker . Mark Morales,Emma . Teenager suspected of killing man vogueing at Brooklyn gas station turns himself in, law enforcement source says . 4 August 2023 . CNN . 4 August 2023 . en . 4 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230804215304/https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/04/us/oshae-sibley-killing-teenager-police-custody/index.html . live.
  21. News: Lavietes . Matt . Dienst . Jonathan . Suspect arrested in connection with deadly stabbing of Brooklyn gay man . 4 August 2023 . NBC News . 4 August 2023 . en . 4 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230804195136/https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-news/arrest-made-stabbing-brooklyn-gay-man-oshae-sibley-rcna98233 . live.
  22. News: Meko . Hurubie . Parnell . Wesley . Twist in Dancer's Killing as Key Detail About Suspect Is Corrected . 9 August 2023 . New York Times . 8 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230809004115/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/08/nyregion/oshae-sibley-stabbing-suspect-dimitry-popov.html . 9 August 2023 . live.
  23. Web site: 2023-08-07 . Teen accused in Brooklyn hate crime stabbing is 'good Christian boy,' attorney says . 2023-08-08 . PIX11 . en-US . 2023-08-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230808000939/https://pix11.com/news/local-news/teen-accused-in-brooklyn-hate-crime-stabbing-is-good-christian-boy-attorney-says/ . live.
  24. News: Janelle . Griffith . Teen charged in death of gay man used homophobic slurs before fatal stabbing, complaint says . 9 August 2023 . NBC News . 8 August 2023 . en . 9 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230809082029/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/teen-charged-fatal-stabbing-brooklyn-gay-man-made-homophobic-anti-blac-rcna98819 . live.
  25. News: Tebor . Celina . Suspect in O'Shae Sibley killing charged with murder . 5 August 2023 . CNN . 5 August 2023 . en . 5 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230805181808/https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/05/us/oshae-sibley-suspect-charged/index.html . live.
  26. News: Meko . Hurubie . Teenager Is Charged in Killing of Dancer at Brooklyn Gas Station . 6 August 2023 . The New York Times . 5 August 2023 . en . 6 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230806004344/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/05/nyregion/oshae-sibley-stabbing-charges.html . live.
  27. News: Katersky . Aaron . Alfonseca . Kiara . Teen said 'homophobic slurs' before O'Shae Sibley killing: Criminal complaint . 7 August 2023 . ABC News . August 7, 2023 . en . 7 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230807200914/https://abcnews.go.com/US/teen-homophobic-slurs-oshae-sibley-killing-criminal-complaint/story?id=102075808 . live.
  28. News: Beech . Samantha . Killing of O'Shae Sibley, who was fatally stabbed while dancing at a Brooklyn gas station, will be prosecuted as a hate crime, prosecutor says . CNN . 10 August 2023 . en . 11 August 2023 . 11 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230811041524/https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/10/us/oshae-sibley-fatal-stabbing-new-york-hate-crime/index.html . live.
  29. News: O'Shae Sibley: Suspect, 17, pleads not guilty to hate crime . 23 August 2023 . BBC News . 11 August 2023.
  30. News: NYC Mayor Adams Calls Fatal Stabbing of Gay Dancer a 'Hate Crime' . The Messenger . 31 July 2023 . en . 1 August 2023 . 1 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230801110138/https://themessenger.com/news/nyc-mayor-adams-calls-fatal-stabbing-of-gay-dancer-a-hate-crime . dead.
  31. News: Man stabbed to death at Brooklyn gas station: NYPD . PIX11 . 30 July 2023 . 1 August 2023 . 1 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230801110138/https://pix11.com/news/local-news/brooklyn/man-fatally-stabbed-at-brooklyn-gas-station-nypd/ . live.
  32. News: Tributes pour in for professional dancer killed at Brooklyn gas station . 2 August 2023 . ABC7 New York . 2 August 2023 . en . 17 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230817044355/https://abc7ny.com/oshae-sibley-gay-dancer-stabbing-gas-station/13586909/ . live.
  33. News: Saunders . Angel . Beyoncé Honors Dancer O'Shae Sibley Who Was Fatally Stabbed While Voguing to Her Music . 2 August 2023 . People . August 1, 2023 . en . 2 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230802044735/https://people.com/beyonce-honors-dancer-oshae-sibley-fatally-stabbed-while-voguing-music-7568589 . live.
  34. Web site: 2023-08-05 . Vogue as resistance: L.A. ballroom scene protests O'Shae Sibley death with dance at a gas station . 2023-08-05 . Los Angeles Times . en-US . 2023-08-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230805192923/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2023-08-05/oshae-sibley-death-la-protest-gas-station-vogue . live.
  35. Web site: 2023-08-05 . Teenager charged with hate crime in fatal stabbing of Brooklyn gay man . 2023-08-05 . NBC News . en . 2023-08-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230805010627/https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-news/arrest-made-stabbing-brooklyn-gay-man-oshae-sibley-rcna98233 . live.
  36. News: Lee . Miya . Love Letter: Honoring O'Shae Sibley at the Stonewall Inn . 4 August 2023 . New York Times . 4 August 2023 . en . 4 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230804193107/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/04/style/love-letter-newsletter-honoring-oshae-sibley-at-the-stonewall-inn.html . live.
  37. News: Billson . Chantelle . Suspect in custody as defiant voguing vigil held at scene of gay dancer O'Shae Sibley's killing . 7 August 2023 . PinkNews . 5 August 2023 . 6 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230806130939/https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/08/05/oshae-sibley-suspect-police-custody-vigil/ . live.
  38. News: Kourlas . Gia . O'Shae Sibley's 'Expression Was Turned Into Resistance' . 7 August 2023 . The New York Times . 7 August 2023 . en . 7 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230807200054/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/07/arts/dance/oshae-sibley-vogueing-memorial.html/ . live.
  39. News: Bansinath . Bindu . Voguing Through the Pain at O'Shae Sibley's Memorial . 7 August 2023 . Curbed . 7 August 2023 . en-us . 7 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230807185934/https://www.curbed.com/2023/08/oshae-sibley-memorial-voguing.html . live.