Hudson Valley College Student Fatally Shot, Suspect Arrested

In the early hours of Sunday morning an 18-year-old Hudson Valley college student was fatally shot. Police have arrested the suspect.

Around 3:25 Sunday morning, police received multiple reports of gunshots in the area of Lincoln Park in New Rochelle.

Upon arrival, police found a man, later identified as Iona College student, 18-year-old Brandon Lawrence of Yonkers, laying in a pool of his own blood from an apparent gunshot wound.

Lawrence was pronounced dead on the scene. "The Iona community is deeply saddened to learn of the tragic loss of an Iona student resulting from a shooting early Sunday morning at a New Rochelle city park," the College said in a statement. "The College is coordinating support services directly with students, faculty and staff and has been advised there is no related danger to the campus community.”

In a series of tweets on Twitter, Westchester Councilman Jared Rice called the incident, "deeply disturbing." Adding, "EVERY community should be a safe one."

On Instagram the Iona college Fashion Club said, "IC Fashion sending all of our prayers & love to the family of Brandon Lawrence for the loss of their loved one. We loved seeing your fashion on campus, God couldn't wait to bring back his Angel."
#RestInParadise."

According to ABC 7, 19-year-old Stivenson Desir, of New Rochelle is the alleged killer. He's been arrested and charged with 2nd-degree murder.

Sadly, Lawerence is the second reported death of a local college student from this past weekend. On Sunday a SUNY New Paltz Junior was found dead in his dorm room.