A fun Saturday night in Brooklyn turned into a night of horror, where a stabbing took place
How the Stabbing Occurred
O’Shae Sibley, 28, was with his friends on Saturday night, blasting Beyonce at a Mobil gas station in Brooklyn, voguing to the music when a group of young men came up to them, demanding them to stop dancing and calling Sibley and his friends anti-gay slurs.
Sibley confronted the men. This caused the argument to escalate to where one man stabbed Sibley in the abdomen. Otis Pena, one of the victim’s best friends, came and pressed on his wound to stop the bleeding. O’Shae was then taken to Maimonides Medical Center, where it was confirmed he passed away.
“They murdered him because he’s gay, because he stood up for his friends……His name was O’Shae and you all killed him. You all murdered him right in front of me,” said Pena. She described him as his brother, always being together.
Police say they are seeking the suspect who is in his late teens, in connection to the murder.
About Mr. O’Shae Sibley
O’Shae is one child of 11 siblings, known as a goofy, fun-loving, and hard-working person. He was a professional dancer, choreographer, activist, and well-known in the ballroom community. Sibley has always had a love for dancing and was very committed to his craft.
His aunt, Tondra Sibley, 49, recalls him as a small boy, “gyrating and jerking” to Missy Elliott. When he got older, he went to hone his skills at the Philadelphia Dance Academy practicing ballet.
Kemar Jewel [31], a longtime friend and mentor also a fellow choreographer and director, says his friend was a quick learner and multi-talented. Jewel and Sibley met 13 years ago at the Attic Youth Center in Philadelphia, a place where gay youth went for after-school activities. Sibley saw Jewels as a mentor even though they were only a few years apart.
O’Shae’s neighbor, Beckenbaur Hamilton [51], said he was not “afraid of being who he was.” Hamilton, who is also gay, previously warned Sibley about being so open with his sexuality.
They lived in the Brooklyn neighborhood that frowned upon homosexuality as well as recalling the attacks he endured in his 20s.
This act of violence truly is heartbreaking to see. No one should be murdered for being their authentic self and standing up for what’s right.
Written by: Saniya Fields
The New York Times – Man Fatally Stabbed in Confrontation as He Danced at a Gas Station by Maria Cramer and Wesley Parnell
Advocate – Brooklyn Dancer O’Shea Sibley Fatally Stabbed for Voguing at Gas Station by Donald Padgett
Top and featured image Courtesy of Thomas Hawk’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Inset image Courtesy of Deckerme’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
