Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
O’Shae Sibley, a 28-year-old Beyoncé fan, was stabbed and killed in Brooklyn on July 29. The New York Times reports that Sibley was dancing to the singer's Renaissance album when he was confronted by a group of men in an incident that led to his death. On Tuesday Beyoncé shared a message, posted on her official website, honoring his life. "Rest in Power O’Shae Sibley" is currently displayed across the artist's homepage.
According to friends of Sibley, the group that approached him as he was dancing at a gas station began using homophobic language to insult him. The professional dancer defended himself and confronted the men, leading to an incident in which he was stabbed. He was treated for his injuries Maimonides Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead.
Hours after his death, Otis Pena, a friend of Sibley's, spoke about the incident in a video they posted on Facebook. “They murdered him because he’s gay, because he stood up for his friends,” Pena said. “His name was O’Shae and you all killed him. O’Shae was just a beacon of light that just influenced everybody. We may be gay, but we exist. We’re not going to live in fear. We’re not going to live hiding.”
The NYPD has confirmed that their hate crimes unit is involved in the investigation into Sibley's death. No arrests have been made at the time of writing.
