Brooklyn man pleads guilty to stabbing activist Ryan Carson

Brian Dowling, a 20-year-old from Brooklyn, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for the fatal stabbing of social justice activist Ryan Carson in an unprovoked attack on October 2, 2023. The incident, which occurred around 3:50 a.m. in Bedford-Stuyvesant, was captured on surveillance video, showing Dowling threatening Carson and ultimately stabbing him multiple times, including a fatal blow to the heart as Carson attempted to flee. Dowling accepted a plea deal that includes a sentence of 20 years to life in prison, with sentencing scheduled for February 19, 2025. Following the attack, Dowling discarded the knife but later retrieved it, and investigators found additional evidence, including similar knives and matching clothing in his apartment. Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez condemned the crime as unconscionable, emphasizing the need for Dowling's long-term removal from society. Carson, 32, was known for his advocacy work, and his death has left a profound impact on his community.