A Brooklyn jury convicted Dmitriy Popov of manslaughter as a hate crime in the 2023 killing of O’Shae Sibley, a gay Black dancer whose death drew national outrage. The verdict came nearly three years after the stabbing at a Brooklyn gas station, though jurors cleared Popov of the most serious murder charge.

According to reporting from The Associated Press and the New York Times, the confrontation began after Popov and his friends hurled racist and anti-LGBTQ+ slurs at Sibley and his companions while they were dancing to Beyoncé music. Prosecutors said Popov, who was 17 at the time, stabbed Sibley in the chest with a knife that penetrated his heart.

Popov argued that he acted in self-defense, but the jury rejected that defense on the manslaughter count. New York state laws prohibit individuals who initiate confrontations and fail to walk away when given the opportunity from using self-defense.

In addition to manslaughter as a hate crime, he was also convicted of charges including menacing, aggravated harassment, and weapon possession.

Sibley’s 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 Eric Gonzalez, the Brooklyn district attorney, in a statement.

The case quickly became a flashpoint, showing the deadly consequences of anti-Black and anti-LGBTQ+ violence, especially for young people trying to claim joy in public spaces. Sibley’s death prompted vigils and renewed calls for accountability from public officials and the community. His funeral in his hometown of Philadelphia attracted more than 200 people, according to the AP; celebrities like Beyoncé and Spike Lee also paid tribute.  

Sentencing is expected later this month.