New Rochelle Man Who Killed Iona College Student Sentenced

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The New Rochelle man who killed an Iona College student in a city park was sentenced to 25 years in prison Wednesday. Stivenson Desir, 20, of Main Street in New Rochelle, had been found guilty by a jury of murdering Brandon Lawrence.

Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino Jr. said Desir was remanded to the custody of the New York State Department of Corrections.

Desir had been charged with second-degree murder and two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, all felonies.

Desir shot Lawrence, a Yonkers resident, around 3:23 a.m. April 3, 2016, in Lincoln Park.

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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.

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