Ryan Carson of Brooklyn, New York City, New York, United States has died. He was 32.
A social justice advocate, Carson was known for his activism against opioid overdoses. As a campaign manager with the New York Public Interest Research Group, he dealt with recycling and solid waste.
In 2016, Carson’s best friend died of a heroin overdose. In 2021, he walked from New York City to Albany, New York to lobby for safe injection facilities.
On October 1, 2023, Carson and his girlfriend attended a wedding on Long Island, New York. On the early morning of October 2, 2023, they waited for the bus at the B38 bus stop at Lafayette Avenue and Malcolm X Boulevard in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn.
At around 4:00 a.m., Carson and his girlfriend were approached by Brian Dowling, 18, of Brooklyn. The teenager kicked moped scooters and bikes on the sidewalk before allegedly asking Carson, “What the f–k are you looking at?”
Carson put himself between his girlfriend and Dowling, who then pulled out a knife. As Carson backed up to get away, he stumbled over a bench.
While Carson was on the ground, he was stabbed in the chest multiple times by Dowling. The stabber kicked Carson, spat on Carson’s girlfriend and stormed away.
The girlfriend called 911. Carson was rushed to Kings County Hospital Center in Brooklyn where he was pronounced dead.
At around 10:00 a.m. on October 5, 2023, Dowling was arrested. He was charged with murder and criminal possession of a weapon.
CONAN Daily 