Jury Convicts New Rochelle Man Who Shot Iona College Student

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — A New Rochelle man who was accused of shooting an Iona College student was found guilty by a jury Tuesday.

Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino Jr. said Stevenson Desir, 20, of Main Street in New Rochelle, was charged with second-degree murder and two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, felonies, in the death of Brandon Lawrence.

He killed Brandon Lawrence April 3 around 3:23 a.m. in Lincoln Park.

An investigation by the New Rochelle Police Department and the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office found that both men had gone to a party hours earlier at an apartment described as off-campus housing used by Iona College.

After the party, five men, including Desir and Lawrence, went to Lincoln Park where, police said, a pre-arranged fist fight between two of the men took place.

While watching the altercation, Desir pulled out a handgun and fired at Lawrence, striking him once in the torso resulting in his death.

Desir was found later in the day at his apartment by New Rochelle Police and was arrested.

He will be sentenced May 3 and remains in jail.

Desir faces 25 years to life in state prison.

Photo caption: Stevenson Desir. Photo credit: Westchester County District Attorney's Office.