Last week’s fatal stabbing of New York City dancer O’Shea Sibley will be prosecuted as a hate crime and the teenage suspect will be charged as an adult.
Dmitriy Popov was charged with first-degree murder on Thursday for allegedly stabbing the professional dancer who was “voguing” to a Beyoncé song in Coney Island at the time of his death.
Brooklyn prosecutor Eric Gonzalez announced Thursday afternoon that a grand jury has voted to indict the 17-year-old “good, Christian” teen.
Popov, a fourth-year student at The Professional Pathways Sheepshead High School, had no previous run-ins with the law.
The 17-year-old will be arraigned on Friday. He faces a minimum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum of 25 years to life.
Last week’s fatal stabbing of New York City dancer O’Shea Sibley will be prosecuted as a hate crime and the teenage suspect will be charged as an adult. The suspect was identified as the teen wearing red shorts and a black T-shirt on the left
The 28-year-old’s death is now being investigated as a hate crime. Dmitriy Popov was charged with second-degree murder on Thursday for allegedly stabbing the professional dancer who was vogue to a Beyoncé song in Coney Island at the time of his death
The Brooklyn district attorney assured the public that the case against Popov would be taken “very seriously,” whose name has not yet been officially released because he is a minor.
“They were themselves and happily danced to Beyoncé music at a gas station in Brooklyn,” Gonzalez said Thursday.
“We promise the family that we will have a vigorous, thorough prosecution.”
“Defending yourself against an anti-gay or an anti-black comment and fighting back is no reason for anyone to pick up a gun and do what was done in this case,” Gonzalez added.
Gonzalez said the entire community has been affected by the tragic incident.
“Hate crimes affect a victim, but also a community,” he continued. “It robs not only the family, but an entire community of the sense of safety and security.”
Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez announced a grand jury Thursday afternoon that voted to indict the 17-year-old “good, Christian” teen
The argument continued to the side of the parking lot where O’Shae is standing, on the left
O’Shae was a talented dancer and choreographer from Philadelphia
Sibley’s father raised his arm in memory of his son in celebration of life while surrounded by family and friends
Popov’s lawyer refuted claims that his client was Muslim, which was initially reported by witnesses.
He claimed the teen is a “good Christian boy” whose parents immigrated to Brooklyn from Russia.
Popov’s lawyer Mark Pollard also said police do not have the weapon used to kill the victim.
He told PIX 11 that police have not retrieved the knife Popov allegedly used to kill Sibley.
A vigil was held on Friday, with many performing their own repertoire to pay tribute to the beloved talented dancer who died in a hate crime
Sibley’s parents stand over their son’s coffin as he says his final goodbyes during the viewing at The Met Philadelphia in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday
A friend of Sibley’s puts a bouquet of flowers during the vigil to memorialize the young dancer
Hundreds of mourners gathered on Tuesday to pay tribute to Sibley.
Sibley, 28, was “vogue” and danced shirtless to a Beyonce song while filling up his car at a gas station in Midwood, Brooklyn before he was killed.
Surveillance footage captured a group of teens allegedly shouting homophobic slurs and anti-black statements at Sibley and his friends, according to surveillance footage ABC News Chicago reported.
Security camera footage showed the altercation had broken out and both groups had run off when Sibley and his friends abruptly returned and crossed a parking lot to confront the white 17-year-old, who was recording on his phone, the Associated Press reported. .
The video showed Sibley following the teen and then lunging at him. The stabbing happened out of sight of the cameras.
Officials said after words were exchanged, the teen took out a knife and stabbed Sibley to death.
The suspect, whose identity has not been released because he is a minor, turned himself in to the police. Brooklyn prosecutors charged him with murder, hate crime murder and criminal possession of weapons.
More than 200 people attended Sibley’s funeral in his hometown of Philadelphia at the historic Opera House on Tuesday.
Sibley’s brooding parents, Jake Kelly and mom Onetha Sibley, walk down the aisle during their son, O’Shea Sibley’s celebration of life ceremony held at The Met in Philadelphia on Tuesday
Onederful Ancrum, a dancer with Philadanco performs at the ceremony to celebrate life in honor of her friend’s shock death
Heartbroken family members hold blue and white floral reefs as they mourn the loss of their loved one during Tuesday’s celebration of life
Sibley’s friends gather beside his coffin to share their final goodbyes
Moving out: Beyonce has now honored Sibley with a tribute on her website, with a simple black and white message: “REST IN POWER O’SHAE SIBLEY”
Sibley had moved to New York to pursue his career as a dancer. He performed with the dance company Philadanco and danced to celebrate his LGBTQ+ identity.
A celebration of life service followed at the Met in Philadelphia. Sibley’s father, Jake Kelly, was caught resting his eyes on his son in his coffin as he said his final goodbyes.
Sidley was buried at Fernwood Cemetary in Lansdowne, Pennsylvania. Sibley’s grief-stricken mother, Onetha Sibley, is seen placing her hand on her son’s royal blue coffin, surrounded by loved ones.
After his senseless death, tributes poured in far and wide, including from filmmaker Spike Lee and musician Beyonce. Spike Lee posted the Instagram post “Rest in Power.”
The Queen Bee posted the same message on its website after learning that Sibley and his friends listened to her music before the fatal attack.