A 20-year-old Brooklyn man will serve 20 years to life in prison for the murder of Ryan Carson, a Brooklyn social justice activist, whom he stabbed to death in Bedford Stuyvesant in 2023.
The defendant, identified as Brian Dowling from Bed-Stuy, pleaded guilty to Carson's murder before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun. He will be sentenced on Feb. 19, the office of Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said in a press release on Wednesday.
The investigation and evidence, including a video footage revealed that the incident happened on Oct. 2, 2023, at approximately 3:50am, outside of 57 Malcolm X Blvd. in Bedford-Stuyvesant. The defendant was seen walking angrily and kicking parked scooters as he walked behind Carson and his girlfriend before threatening to kill him unprovoked.
“I’m going to kill you," he said, swinging his knife the victim's direction. Carson's attempt to de-escalate the situation before Dowling stabbed him multiple times including to his heart.
The defendant flung the knife but returned moments later to retrieve it from under greenery next to a nearby sidewalk. He turned himself in later that week.
Multiple knives with similar handles to the handle of the knife that was recovered at the scene and clothes matching those of the assailant were recovered in his apartment.
Gonzalez condemned the incident and described the victim as dedicated to the betterment of his community.
“Many of us still shudder when recalling the horrific video showing this defendant viciously attacking Ryan Carson and stabbing him to death for no reason at all," said Gonzalez. "Such an unconscionable crime requires the separation of this defendant from our society for a very long time, which is ensured by the promised sentence he’s now facing. Ryan was passionate about making our city a better place and I hope that today’s outcome will bring his loved ones a small sense of closure.”
