Man found guilty of manslaughter as a hate crime in killing of O'Shae Sibley
Popov stabbed Sibley to death in 2023 in the parking lot of a Midwood gas station after he hurled homophobic and racial slurs at the 28-year-old and his friends.
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A jury found Dmitry Popov, of Brooklyn, guilty of manslaughter as a hate crime in the killing of O'Shae Sibley.
Popov stabbed Sibley to death in 2023 in the parking lot of a Midwood gas station after he hurled homophobic and racial slurs at the 28-year-old and his friends.
The jury also found Popov guilty of menacing, criminal possession of a weapon and aggravated harassment.
Defense attorneys argued that Popov acted in self-defense.
He was found not guilty of second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter, both as hate crimes.
Sibley, of Brooklyn, was dancing with friends after returning from the beach when he was killed.
Popov, who was 17 years old at the time, was arrested less than a week later.
"O'Shae Sibley moved to New York to pursue his dream of being a dancer and choreographer, and his life was cut short when he was killed by this defendant, who couldn't stand the sight of O'Shae and his friends just being themselves and living their lives openly as black gay men," said Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez.
Community members and loved ones gathered at the LGBTQ center in Manhattan's West Village to remember Sibley, where his sister spoke out about his legacy.
“I hate that I have to speak about my brother in the past tense, because he did not deserve this,” said Desire Sibley. “He should have not have been killed for standing up for who he was.”
Popov's sentencing date was set for June 30. He faces up to 25 years behind bars.
"By the jury's verdict, this defendant will now be held accountable, and it is my hope that as the LGBTQ+ community celebrates the beginning of Pride Month, this verdict will bring O'Shae's family, his friends, and the larger community some measure of solace," said Gonzalez.
