NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Beyonce is mourning a fan who was stabbed to death on Saturday, July 30, when he was “innocently pumping gas” at a Brooklyn gas station. According to reports, dancer O'Shae Sibley was stabbed when he along with his friends were voguing to the Grammy-winning songstress’s ‘Renaissance’ album at the gas station and had an altercation with a group already there.
Sibley’s death is being investigated as a possible hate crime against the gay community. The ‘Break My Soul’ songstress posted a poignant tribute to the fan who lost his life while dancing to her song. A message on Beyonce’s official website reads, “Rest in power O’Shae Sibley.”
Who was O’Shae Sibley?
Sibley was a 28-year-old dancer who came to New York City three years ago to pursue a career in the arts. He was a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a passionate dancer and choreographer as can be seen from his social media posts. He used to post pictures on his social media where he could be seen posing graciously. He also participated in the Ailey Extension program.
The studio too mourned Sibley's death with a thought-evoking tribute on Facebook. They wrote, “The Ailey organization mourns the tragic death of O’Shae Sibley, following an attack outside of a Brooklyn gas station on Saturday night,” before adding, “O’Shae was a cherished and devoted Ailey Extension student. He had incredible energy in the studio and was loved by instructors and fellow classmates.” The studio’s post on Monday continued, “We are shocked and heartbroken that O’Shae’s life has been taken by senseless violence and extend our sincere condolences to his family and loved ones.”
On Saturday, Sibley - who was a Black man - and his friends stopped at the Mobil gas station to fill up their car. As per the video obtained by the New York Post and Page Six, as the two men started dancing to tracks from Beyonce’s ‘Renaissance’ album, a group of men standing outside the store started talking to them. Soon the squabble was exacerbated, and Sibley, who was bare-chested and was wearing a pair of pink shorts, was stabbed in the chest. His friends rushed to his aid. Police received a call just before midnight, and when they reached the spot, they found Sibley stabbed in the torso. Sibley was then taken to the Maimonides Medical Center where he died.
'Y'all killed O'Shae'
Sibley was known for dancing outside with his friends. Friends and family of Sibley are still in shock. His neighbor Beckenbaur Hamilton told CBS New York, "I'm still in shock. Each time I hear the door, I keep looking for O'Shae to come out," before adding, "They were dancing. They were filling up on gas, but they were voguing, doing crazy, I can promise you.”
Hamilton eulogized Sibley’s merry personality, saying, "I wasn't there, but I can tell you just from what I saw that's just how they are. He comes out here and stops the music and just starts dancing and voguing and carrying on."
Sibley’s friend Otis Pena looked visibly shaken in a Facebook Live video, where he said that he witnessed the stabbing. Pena said, "They killed my brother right in front of me." He broke down in tears saying, "Just pumping gas and listening to 'Renaissance' and just having a good time. Y'all killed O'Shae.”
In another post, Pena said, “They hated us cause we are gay! Screaming we Muslim and we don’t like gays!!!!! As we are innocently pumping gas and y’all decided to stab one of us!!! #justice.” In another, he wrote, “We were VOGUING!!!!!!!! Innocently voguing just two blocks from being dropped off at my house pumping gas!!!!”
While no arrests have yet been made in what looks like a homophobic attack, the police said to WCBS on Tuesday that a suspect had been identified. The NYPD is investigating the stabbing as a possible hate crime.
