NEW YORK _ A man killed during a scuffle Sunday with a romantic rival in the stairwell of a Bronx building was a Grammy-winning jazz drummer who has played in venues all over the world, cops and a relative said Monday.
Lawrence Leathers, 37, lost consciousness after Sterling Aguilar allegedly placed him in a chokehold in the hallway of the victim's home on East 141st Street in the Bronx's Mott Haven section. Cops said Leathers' girlfriend, Lisa Harris, was also punching him in the head during the brawl.
Leathers collapsed and died. His body was discovered about 11:40 a.m. Sunday.
Aguilar, 28, of Brooklyn, and Harris, 47, who lived with Leathers, are both charged with assault, cops said.
The medical examiner will determine the exact cause of death. Charges against Aguilar could be upgraded.
Leathers is best known in jazz circles for his connections to pianist Aaron Diehl and singer Cecile McLorin Salvant.
Leathers, a Lansing, Mich., native, won two Grammy awards backing Salvant, as a member of the Aaron Diehl Trio. His most recent Grammy was in 2017 for "Dreams and Daggers," much of which was recorded live at The Village Vanguard in New York.
"He was considered an institution in the jazz community," said Leathers' brother, Brandon, a gospel hip hop artist.
Brandon Leathers said his brother picked up a pair of drumsticks when he was 6 and never put them down. He also taught himself how to play a bunch of other instruments and earned a coveted spot at The Julliard School only to walk away after only two years to pursue his craft professionally
"We all thought he lost his mind when he decided to quit Julliard," Brandon Leathers said. "Because no one leaves Julliard. But he was very adamant about his decision. He made his move and never looked back."
What followed were late-night sessions at Smalls Jazz Club and Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola and world tours.
