Lawrence Leathers, 37, was found dead in the second-floor stairwell of his apartment building on East 141st Street just before noon. He performed under the name Lawrence Lo Leathers.
Police say he was involved in a dispute with his girlfriend, 41-year-old Lisa Harris, who also lives in the apartment when 28-year-old Sterling Aguilar put Leathers in a chokehold.
JALC joins the jazz community in mourning Lawrence Lo Leathers.
— Jazz at Lincoln Center (@jazzdotorg) June 3, 2019
From performances including Jazz for Young People concerts in Rose Theater, to memorable sets in The Appel Room, to Late Night Sessions at #Dizzys, he brought his spirit to all our stages. https://t.co/snyBkc8rkT pic.twitter.com/x5LbiTJAbT
Both Aguilar, of Brooklyn, and Harris are charged with assault. Charges could be upgraded.
The medical examiner will determine the cause of death, and the investigation is ongoing.
Leathers, originally of Michigan, won two Grammy Awards backing singer Cecile McLorin Salvant as a member of the Aaron Diehl Trio.
