They Lured Him to an Empty Stairwell. Minutes Later, Beloved Fla. Teen Was Dying from a Sword Attack

The third student in a trio accused of brutally killing a high school classmate in 2021 has been sentenced to 40 years in prison, Local 10 reports. After serving his sentence, he will also face a lifetime of probation.

Andre Clements, now 20, pleaded guilty to murder, conspiracy to commit murder and tampering with evidence in the killing of 18-year-old Dwight “DJ” Grant — a case that shocked their Miramar, Fla., community in 2021. 

Two of Clements’ and Grant’s female classmates, Christie Parisien and Jaslyn Smith, were sentenced to 25 years in prison in August 2024 for the crime, per Local 10.

Clements wanted to kill Grant, his Miramar High School classmate, because Grant had reportedly gotten together with Clements’ ex-girlfriend. Clements seemed to view Grant as a romantic rival.

Grant, a senior, disappeared on Oct. 17, 2021, after the three teens (age 16, 17, and 17 at the time) lured him from his apartment into an empty stairwell. In interrogation footage, per Local 12, Parisien and Smith claimed Clements told them he was only planning to fight Grant — not kill him.

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One of the female accomplices held Grant down while Clements attacked him, NBC News reported in 2021, while the other female accomplice reportedly looked out for witnesses. Then the three teens colluded to dispose of the evidence.

Grant’s body was found two days later behind some bushes at the complex where he lived, per NBC Miami. He had a sword wound and a knife wound, Local 10 reports. 

The murder was reportedly caught on surveillance footage, and text messages also incriminated Grant’s three classmates. NBC News reported in 2021 that one of the texts from Clements to the victim asserted that “murder [was] coming soon,” and one of the girls then “jokingly” offered to assist.

The high-schoolers were all charged as adults in court.

At Clements’ sentencing hearing, Grant’s mother reportedly cried as she told the judge, “I will never walk my son down the aisle, he’ll never come say anything to me ’cause he’s not here … All the good things my son did, the memories will always be with me.”

After the sentencing, Clements apologized to Grant’s family, per NBC Miami, claiming he’d give his life to bring Grant back.