Man Accused of Killing Iona College Student Arraigned

NEW ROCHELLE, NY - The New Rochelle man who was accused of the shooting death of an Iona College student was arraigned Tuesday.

Acting Westchester County District Attorney James A. McCarty announced that Stivenson Desir, 19, was charged with second-degree murder and two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, felonies.

Desir entered a plea of not guilty.

He allegedly 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 Desir and Lawrence had gone to a party earlier that night 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, McCarty said, a pre-arranged fist fight between two of the men took place.

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

Desir is being kept in jail. His next court appearance is scheduled for July 26.

Lawrence’s funeral service will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, May 6 at Yonkers Central Church of God, 221 Hudson St. It will be preceded by a viewing at 6 p.m.

Friends of the family have set up a GoFundMe page to help pay for funeral expenses.

Photo caption: Stivenson Desir. Photo credit: Courtesy.