17-year-old charged with hate crime in murder of O’Shae Sibley

BROOKLYN - The 17-year-old suspected of fatally stabbing of Out Black dancer O’Shae Sibley a week ago, has been charged with murder as a hate crime and criminal possession of a weapon. New York City Mayor Eric Adams, NYPD officials and community leaders spoke at a public press conference held at the location of the deadly stabbing in Brooklyn’s Midwood neighborhood detailing the charges brought in the case.

Mayor Adams told those gathered that “[Sibley’s] parents have lost a child in something that was clearly a hate crime.” The Mayor then thanked the NYPD reflecting that the apprehension of the teenager was made possible by the contributions of “everyday New Yorkers” in aiding the NYPD with information and tips.

The Mayor then addressed the fact that initially it seemed “that the hate was coming from the Muslim community against the LGBTQ+ community- that was in fact not true,” Adams said. “These are both important communities in the City of New York, they contribute to the community, [...] and both are against any level of hate.” He then pointed out that both of those minority communities have been targeted by hate. “They have been united in fighting any form of hate in this city,” the Mayor added.

“This is a city where you are free to express yourself, and that expression should never end with any form of violence,” Adams said.

After the Mayor’s remarks, Joseph E. Kenny, the NYPD Assistant Chief of the Detective Bureau took to the podium and summarized the case facts.