Man Found Guilty of Hate Crime in Killing of Black Gay Dancer O’Shae Sibley, Face Up to 25 Years in Prison

A Brooklyn jury has convicted Dmitriy Popov of first-degree manslaughter as a hate crime in the 2023 killing of O’Shae Sibley, a Black gay dancer whose death sparked national outrage and renewed conversations about anti-LGBTQ+ violence.

A Brooklyn jury has convicted Dmitriy Popov of first-degree manslaughter as a hate crime in the fatal stabbing of O’Shae Sibley, a Black gay dancer whose 2023 killing sparked widespread grief and outrage throughout LGBTQ+ communities nationwide.

Popov, 20, was also found guilty of second-degree menacing, second-degree aggravated harassment and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Jurors acquitted him of the more serious charge of murder as a hate crime.

The verdict comes nearly three years after Sibley, 28, was stabbed to death during a confrontation at a Brooklyn gas station on July 29, 2023.

Prosecutors argued that Popov and others targeted Sibley and his friends with racist and anti-gay slurs while the group danced and vogued to music by Beyoncé after spending the day at the beach.

According to court testimony, Sibley and his friends were gathered at a gas station near Coney Island when Popov and two others confronted them and demanded they stop dancing. Witnesses testified that the men directed homophobic remarks toward the group and challenged their presence in the public space.

Prosecutors said Sibley attempted to de-escalate the situation, telling those involved that they were “just having a good time” and had as much right to be there as anyone else. The confrontation, however, continued to intensify.

During the altercation, prosecutors said Popov brandished a knife, threatened one of Sibley’s friends, and ultimately stabbed Sibley in the chest. The wound pierced his heart.

Sibley was transported to a nearby hospital, where he later died from his injuries.

Throughout the trial, Popov maintained that he acted in self-defense. The jury ultimately rejected that argument and found that bias against Sibley’s sexual orientation played a role in the attack.

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said the verdict delivered accountability for a crime that devastated both Sibley’s loved ones and LGBTQ+ communities across the country.

“O’Shae Sibley moved to New York to pursue his dream of being a dancer and choreographer, and his life was cut short when he was killed by this defendant, who couldn’t stand the sight of O’Shae and his friends just being themselves and living their lives openly as Black gay men,” Gonzalez said in a statement following the verdict.

He added that he hoped the conviction would provide “some measure of solace” to Sibley’s family, friends and community during Pride Month.

Sibley’s death became a national flashpoint in conversations about anti-LGBTQ+ violence, particularly violence directed toward Black queer people. Vigils and memorial gatherings were held across the country in the weeks following his death, with advocates calling for greater protections for LGBTQ+ people and increased attention to hate-motivated violence.

A talented performer, Sibley had built a reputation within the dance community through his work with the Philadelphia Dance Company, commonly known as PHILADANCO!, one of the nation’s premier Black dance institutions. He also studied through the Ailey Extension program affiliated with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York.

Friends and colleagues remembered him as a gifted artist, mentor and source of joy whose presence left a lasting impact on those around him.

His funeral drew hundreds of mourners, including members of New York’s ballroom and dance communities. Public figures also paid tribute following his death, including Beyoncé, whose music Sibley and his friends were dancing to shortly before the fatal encounter. Filmmaker Spike Lee was among those who publicly honored his memory.

Advocates say the verdict represents an important acknowledgment of the role anti-LGBTQ+ bias played in the attack, though many note that it cannot undo the loss experienced by Sibley’s family and community.

The conviction arrives during Pride Month, a time when LGBTQ+ organizations continue to highlight the disproportionate violence faced by queer and transgender people, particularly Black LGBTQ+ individuals.

Popov is scheduled to be sentenced June 30. He faces between eight and 25 years in prison on the first-degree manslaughter as a hate crime conviction.

For many who have followed the case, the verdict marks the end of a long legal process. For those who loved Sibley, however, it serves as another reminder of a life and career cut tragically short.

Nearly three years after his death, Sibley remains remembered not only as a victim of violence, but as an artist whose joy, talent and unapologetic authenticity continue to resonate throughout the communities he inspired.