In a significant legal decision, a Brooklyn jury has found Dmitriy Popov guilty of manslaughter as a hate crime in the tragic death of dancer O’Shae Sibley. The incident, which occurred at a Brooklyn gas station, arose from a confrontation where Sibley and his friends were targeted with racist and anti-gay slurs while dancing to a Beyoncé song.
At the time of the incident in 2023, Popov was only 17 years old. During the trial, he claimed self-defense after stabbing the 28-year-old Sibley. However, prosecutors argued that Popov’s actions were fueled by hatred, leading to the fatal outcome when Sibley reacted to the provocations. The trial spanned three weeks in the New York State Supreme Court in Brooklyn.
The jury deliberated for a week before convicting Popov not only of manslaughter but also of second-degree menacing, second-degree aggravated harassment, and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Although Popov was acquitted of the more severe charge of murder as a hate crime, which could have resulted in a life sentence, the manslaughter conviction carries a potential prison sentence of 8 to 25 years.
Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez expressed hope that the verdict would provide some solace to Sibley’s family and the LGBTQ+ community, especially as Pride Month begins. In a statement, he said, “Hate has no place in Brooklyn.” Gonzalez also lamented that Sibley’s aspirations of becoming a dancer and choreographer were cruelly ended.
Popov’s defense attorney, Mark Pollard, has announced plans to appeal the verdict, describing the outcome as “probably bittersweet for both sides.” While relieved that Popov was not convicted of murder, Pollard expressed disappointment over the other convictions. Popov’s sentencing is scheduled for June 30.
The altercation at the gas station unfolded after Sibley and his friends, returning from a beach trip, stopped for gas. A group of young men and teenagers began taunting them as they danced. Security footage from the station captured the ensuing argument, which lasted around two minutes. When Sibley and his friends returned to their car, Popov remained outside, continuing to hurl insults while filming with his phone.
Sibley confronted Popov once more, and Popov claimed that Sibley chased and struck him. Although the security footage did not capture the stabbing itself, Popov testified that he used a 5-and-a-half-inch knife to defend himself, saying, “I was scared that I was going to get hurt.”
Sibley, a celebrated performer with the Philadelphia-based dance company Philadanco and a student of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s Ailey Extension program, was known for using dance to celebrate his LGBTQ+ identity. His funeral in Philadelphia drew around 200 attendees, with many public figures, including Beyoncé and Spike Lee, paying tribute on social media.
Popov, born in the U.S. to a family of Russian descent, was a high school senior when the incident occurred. The tragic events serve as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community.
