Police charge 18-year-old Brooklyn man in murder of activist Ryan Thoresen Carson

Ryan Thoresen Carson, pictured here, was fatally stabbed in Brooklyn in what police say was an unprovoked attack

Police arrested a suspect on Thursday morning in connection with the unprovoked fatal stabbing of local activist Ryan Thoresen Carson.

Brian Dowling, 18, of Lafayette Avenue in Brooklyn, was arrested and charged with murder and criminal possession of a weapon, police said.

At around 3:45 a.m. on Monday, Thoresen Carson and his girlfriend were sitting on a bus stop bench when Dowling walked by, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said in a news conference on Wednesday.

Dowling kicked and damaged several mopeds parked on the sidewalk roughly 40 feet away from the couple, and asked them, “What are you looking at?” according to Kenny.

Thoresen Carson then stood between Dowling and his girlfriend and attempted to de-escalate the situation, Kenny said.

Dowling pulled out a knife and stabbed Thoresen Carson three times, piercing his heart, according to police. As Thoresen Carson lay on the sidewalk, Dowling kicked him, Kenny said, adding that Dowling then threatened to stab Thoresen Carson’s girlfriend and spat in her face.

A woman — who police say is Dowling’s girlfriend — then approached the couple to apologize. She uttered the name “Brian,” police said.

Thoresen Carson was pronounced dead at 4:18 a.m. on Monday.

City officials, family and friends grieved 31-year-old Thoresen Carson’s death on Tuesday. He worked for years as an advocate for environmental causes and harm reduction.