Man Sentenced For Stabbing NYC Activist To Death: DA

BROOKLYN, NY — A 20-year-old man has been sentenced to life in prison for fatally stabbing a New York City community activist in front of his girlfriend back in 2023, prosecutors said.

Brian Dowling was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison for the unprovoked murder of Ryan Carson, 32, in Oct. 2023.

In January, Dowling pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.

"Justice has been served – but that will not bring back Ryan Carson or all the benefits he would have brought to our communities if his life wasn’t cut short," Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said. "The tragic murder of this promising and passionate activist was beyond abhorrent and senseless, necessitating the lengthy prison term imposed in this case."

In October 2023, Carson was waiting for a bus with his girlfriend in Bed-Stuy near the corner of Lafayette Avenue and Malcolm X Boulevard when Dowling approached him and began cursing and threatening the victim.

Dowling was reported to have said, "I'm going to kill you right now," before proceeding to stab Carson multiple times, prosecutors said.

Dowling was arrested later that week after turning himself to police.