Professional dancer and choreographer, O’Shea Sibley, who is also a gay New Yorker, was fatally stabbed while listening to Beyoncé and voguing at a local gas station. NYPD has now launched an investigation into the stabbing as a possible hate crime.

O’Shea Sibley’s Stabbing

According to the New York Times, Sibley stopped for gas at the station with friends. They then got out to dance to music from Beyoncé’s “Renaissance” album, which was playing in their car. Sibley and his friends were approached by a group of men who “told them to stop dancing” and started using slurs. The entire altercation was captured on surveillance video.

Sibley and best friend, Otis Pena were heard responding to the men, telling them to stop and that “there is nothing wrong with being gay.” One of men then proceeded to stab Sibley, who was taken to the hospital and was pronounced dead soon after. Pena tried his best to stop the bleeding while they waited for medics to arrive at the gas station. In a video posted to Facebook, he shared a few words about losing his best friend that night.

“They killed him right in front of me. I’m covered in his blood. I was holding his stab wounds,” he said in the video. “I was trying to put pressure on the wound and there was blood squirting everywhere … They killed him right in my arms.”

According to Pena, their friend group was celebrating his birthday. They planned to drive to Pena’s home, which is located two blocks from the crime scene, shortly before Sibley was stabbed. According to officials, Sibley was stabbed in his torso on July 29, 2023, shortly after 11 p.m.

NBC 4 New York reports that a 17-year-old is now being sought in connection with Sibley’s death. Police sources say they have identified the teen who is still at large.

Celebrating Sibley’s Life

The “Renaissance” artist seemingly has heard the news. On Beyoncé’s official website the phrase, “Rest In Power O’Shea Sibley” is displayed. The singer has not made any other official comment on the crime.

Sibley’s father, Jake Kelly, has started a GoFundMe page to raise funds for the cost of his funeral.

“O’Shae not only was the glue to this family, he was a great dancer and performer for the majority of his life,” Kelly wrote in the fundraiser’s description. “His spirit lit up every room he stepped in. His smile was contagious.”