N.Y. Social justice advocate Ryan Carson has been stabbed to death on the street in front of his girlfriend. Details on his death and career explored.

Social justice advocate Ryan Carson was stabbed to death in an unprovoked attack in Brooklyn.

Carson is remembered by loved ones as a man who advocated for others and had an “engaging personality and hearty laugh.”

At the time of his tragic passing during an unprovoked attack, his girlfriend witnesses the horror incident.

Here’s what we know about the late New Yorker whose demise has caused a great loss to the world.

Who was Ryan Carson?

Ryan Carson, 32, was a New York poet and activist. Throughout his career, he dedicated his life to fighting for social justice.

He had lived in New York for 13 years and for a decade, he helped organise campaigns for the New York Public Interest Research Group, which work recently focused on improving recycling and solid waste management

He also reportedly helped create a campaign called “No OD NY”, which was aimed at raising awareness of overdose prevention centers.

In 2021, Carson walked over 150 miles from New York City to Albany to raise awareness of the centers and other harm reduction measures, according to Gothamist. He also lobby for safe injection facilities and raised more than $20,000 for the cause, according to a GoFundMe page he launched.

What happened to Ryan Carson?

Ryan Carson was fatally stabbed in Brooklyn on Monday, according to multiple reports.

Ryan Carson, 32, was stabbed at around 4 a.m. in the Crown Heights neighborhood while standing on the street with his girlfriend, police sources told CBS News.

The assailant approached and asked, “What are you looking at?” before stabbing Carson in the chest numerous times, the outlet reported, citing sources. The outlet reported that Carson’s girlfriend was not injured during the attack.

Carson was a longtime campaign organizer for New York Public Research Group whose work recently focused on improving recycling and solid waste management. The organization issued a statement after his killing, saying, in part, “Ryan was a beloved staffer, colleague and friend, and a creative, talented, relentless and upbeat advocate for students and the environment. His engaging personality, hearty laugh and wide-ranging intelligence were keys to his success in advancing the causes he deeply cared about in his work and personal life.”

On Monday night, more than 100 people gathered for a candlelight vigil to honor Carson’s life, News 12 reported. Those in attendance said he and his girlfriend had left a wedding and were heading home before the stabbing, per the outlet.

How rich was Ryan Carlson? The late activist and social justice advocate, who was stabbed to death, accumulated an estimated fortune. He had an estimated net worth of between $500,000 and $1 million.

“You know it’s hard when the person you go to to talk about grief is the one who died,” State Assemblymember Emily Gallagher, a friend of Carson’s, told News 12. “It’s been really difficult to comprehend,” she added.

“I’m horrified to learn of the brutal murder of advocate Ryan Carson in Brooklyn today,” New York City Council Member Chi Ossé wrote on X (formerly Twitter.) “This tireless defender of his neighbors was stolen from us. Committed to ending this senseless violence, my heart is with his family.”

Ossé’s fellow Council Member, Sandy Nurse, wrote that her “team was devastated to hear of Ryan Carson’s passing.”

“Ryan was a dedicated environmental advocate who worked tirelessly to protect our communities and ecosystems from the climate crisis,” Nurse added.

The New York Communities for Change community organization described the social justice advocate on X as “a wonderful advocate and ally” who was “taken too soon.” 

“He advocated tirelessly for others, and his giving spirit was a buoy to all,” New York Mayor Eric Adams wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

“His murder is unthinkable and the NYPD won’t rest until we bring him justice.”

Reading many beautiful tributes to Ryan Carson today as I reflect on this shocking, horrific news of his death.

Ryan's compassion was evident in everything he did. My fondest memory is of a night out we spent together with friends in Albany last year.

We all stayed up late in…

— Julia Salazar (@JuliaCarmel__) October 3, 2023

Senator Chuck Schumer, who worked with Carson at a town hall regarding inflation, called him a “rising talent and extraordinary activist.

“May his memory and work inspire us,” the Senator wrote on X.

Blair Horner, Carson’s boss at NYPIRG, told ABC 7 that his killing was “incredibly tragic.”

“A life full of promise is snuffed out,” she added. “And the world is a worse place for it and we’ll miss him dearly.”