Joveair Brice is accused of beating his girlfriend, a paraprofessional in the New York City school system, to death with a hammer

Joveair Brice, 28, of Mount Vernon, was arraigned on Tuesday, April 7th, on one count of Murder in the Second Degree, a class A felony, for allegedly killing his girlfriend, Lisa Grier, a 33-year-old paraprofessional in the New York City school system, according to a statement released today by Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace.

 “The horrific murder of Lisa Grier must serve as a wake-up call to all of us in New York, a stark reminder of the everyday perils of domestic violence. My office will spare no effort to hold the defendant accountable for killing Ms. Grier, as we have alleged in court, and to provide her loved ones with a modicum of justice. Her memory deserves no less,” DA Cacace said in the statement.

Brice was remanded to the Norwood E. Jackson Correctional Center, located in Valhalla, by Mount Vernon City Court Judge Nichelle Johnson while more proceedings were conducted. His next court date is Monday, April 20th.

According to a felony complaint filed in the case, between March 20th and March 21st, the defendant struck Lisa Grier, of Mount Vernon, in the head with a hammer multiple times, killing her. Ms. Grier was the defendant’s girlfriend and was employed by the New York City school system as a paraprofessional working with special needs students at Spruce Street School in Chelsea.

After Grier did not meet up with friends as planned, police were asked on March 21 to check her apartment at 324 East Fourth St. Shortly after 4 p.m., they found her body, and the criminal complaint against Brice said the killing likely occurred between 6 pm. the previous night and 12:15 pm. that day, according to Lohud.

This case was investigated by the Mount Vernon Police Department.

Major Case Bureau Deputy Chief Elizabeth Shumejda and Assistant District Attorney Marissa Morra-Wynn are prosecuting the case. Mount Vernon Bureau Chief Christine Cervasio handled the arraignment.

The charges against the defendant are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.