Murder as a hate crime is charge for teen suspect in Brooklyn gas station voguing death of O’Shae Sibley
A teen accused of stabbing gay Black man O’Shae Sibley at a Brooklyn gas station was charged with murder as a hate crime by a grand jury, officials said Thursday.
Dmitriy Popov, 17, teen hurled homophobic slurs and anti-Black epithets at Sibley on July 29 before plunging a knife deep into his side, piercing his heart, authorities said.
Popov surrendered with his lawyer on Aug. 4, days after on the lam during which he shaved his head and shut off his phone in a failed attempt to evade the law, prosecutors said.
Police said that during a confrontation captured on surveillance video, Popov stabbed Sibley after a minutes-long standoff at the Mobil station on Coney Island Ave. near Ave. P in Midwood.
Sibley, 28, and his friends were returning from a trip to the Jersey Shore, and pulled over to get gas. They spent the next few minutes blaring Beyoncé songs and voguing — making exaggerated poses — near the gas pumps
Popov and his friends, who were inside the station convenience store, stepped out to object, claiming the dancing offended their Muslim faith.
Popov’s family has since said he is Christian.
Brooklyn DA Eric Gonzalez said Gonzalez said a grand jury heard evidence in the case and returned the indictment of murder in the second degree as a hate crime, in addition to other charges.
The indictment elevates the murder charge as a hate crime, and the defendant faces a minimum of 20 years and a maximum of 25 years in jail to life if convicted, Gonzalez said.
“The death of this young man is both tragic and senseless,” Gonzalez said. “The entire community has been victimized by this senseless victimization of Mr. Sibley. This crime, while clearly impacting his family and loved ones, has impacted the entirety of Brooklyn, and the entirety of the city and I dare say the entire nation.”
Gonzalez declined to say if anyone else would face criminal charges.
Beyoncé would later pay tribute to Sibley on her website.
