NEW ROCHELLE, NY — Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino, Jr. announced that Stivenson Desir (DOB 11/12/96) of 759 Main Street, New Rochelle, New York was sentenced by Judge Barry Warhit to twenty-five years to life in state prison after having been found guilty by a jury of:
•one count of Murder in the Second Degree, a class “A” Felony,
•two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, class “C” Felonies, in the death of Brandon Lawrence.
On April 3, 2016 at approximately 3:17 a.m., the New Rochelle Police Department received several 911 calls reporting that shots had been fired in Lincoln Park. When they arrived on the scene, they found the victim lying face down in the center field area of the ball field. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
An intensive investigation carried out by the New Rochelle Police Department and the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office revealed that both the victim and the defendant had attended a party hours earlier at an apartment in the city described as off campus housing used by Iona College.
Following the party, a group of five male attendees including the victim and the defendant, went to Lincoln Park. While at the park, two of the men engaged in a pre-arranged fist fight.
As they were watching, the defendant pulled a handgun and fired at the victim, hitting him once in the torso resulting in his death.
Later that day, the defendant was located at his apartment by New Rochelle Police and placed under arrest.
The defendant was remanded to the custody of the New York State Department of Corrections.
Assistant District Attorney Christine O’Connor and Assistant District Attorney Shameika Mathurin of the Superior Court Trial Division prosecuted the case.