The death of O’Shae Sibley, who was stabbed to death at a gas station in Midwood on Saturday, has the community shocked and worried about safety and hateful rhetoric.  

Sibley, 28, was fatally stabbed at the station on Saturday, where police say he and friends were dancing as they pumped fuel. Police say a group of men approached them and began to shout homophobic slurs, which escalated to a violent confrontation in which Sibley was stabbed.  

Sources say that Sibley was a member of the LGBTQ+ community, and Brooklyn Community Pride Center member Omari Scott says his death is sending waves through the community.  

“Everything from verbal harassment to physical harassment, to actually being physically attacked, to murder,” said Scott. “It is deeply upsetting.” 

Dr. Nilar Thwin of Maimonides Medical Center’s LGBTQIA+ Mental Clinic works directly with the community and says she sees face fear on a daily basis.  

“I remember one girl telling me that she doesn’t want to go to certain neighborhoods, or certain places… because she said, ‘I can’t go with my girlfriend’,” said Thwin.  

Support has poured in, including from Beyonce’s website, which displays the message ‘Rest In Power, O’Shae Sibley’.  

Gov. Kathy Hochul told News 12 that this incident is being investigated as a hate crime.