Grand jury indicts teen suspect on hate crime charge in O’Shae Sibley’s Brooklyn stabbing death

NEW YORK — The stabbing loss of life of O’Shae Sibley can be prosecuted as a hate crime, Brooklyn District Lawyer Eric Gonzalez mentioned at a information convention late Thursday afternoon. 

Gonzalez introduced a grand jury voted to indict the 17-year-old highschool pupil arrested in Sibley’s loss of life final week for second-degree homicide as a hate crime. 

On July 29, Sibley and his mates have been dancing to Beyoncé whereas filling their automotive at a fuel station in Brooklyn after they received into an argument with a gaggle of youngsters who used homophobic slurs and made anti-Black statements, in response to the New York Police Division.

Safety digital camera video from the fuel station reveals each teams walked away when the argument ended, however Sibley returned and crossed a car parking zone to confront the 17-year-old recording together with his telephone.

Sibley, 28, may be seen following the teenager and lunging at him. The teenager allegedly stabbed Sibley out of view from the cameras, in response to the NYPD. 

“Defending your self from being an anti-gay or an anti-Black remark and arguing again just isn’t a trigger for somebody to take a weapon and do what was accomplished on this case,” Gonzalez mentioned. “Hate crimes impacts a sufferer, however it additionally impacts a group. It robs not simply the household, however a whole group of the sense of security and safety.” 

If convicted as charged, the teenager suspect faces a minimal sentence of no less than 20 years in jail, and a most of 25 years to life. 

He’s scheduled to be arraigned Friday. His identify has not been launched as a result of he’s a juvenile. 

Sibley moved to New York to pursue his profession as a dancer. On Tuesday, about 200 folks attended his funeral in Philadelphia, the place he grew up.