Two young women who admitted to helping their friend kill another teenager told police they thought it would only be a fight.
Jaslyn Smith, who was 16 at the time, shared her side of the story with police on October 19, 2021, with her mom by her side. She explained that Andre Clements, her friend, told her he was angry about some drama involving a girl. He said he needed help for what she thought was going to be just a fight. “He told me it was just a fight,” she said.
Christie Parisien, who was 17 during the incident, had a similar account. Speaking with police on October 23, 2021, she said, “I didn’t think he meant, like, actual murder. I thought he meant fighting him, beating him up or something.” She described it as the kind of typical high school conflict involving jealousy over relationships.
But what happened wasn’t a fight. Authorities say Andre Clements, who was also a teenager at the time, killed 18-year-old Dwight “DJ” Grant using a sword. The reason? Grant had hooked up with Clements’ ex-girlfriend.
Smith, now 19, and Parisien, now 20, were sentenced on August 29 to 25 years in prison. They were found guilty of second-degree murder, tampering with evidence, and conspiracy to commit murder.
In her police interview, Smith admitted to holding down Grant’s legs because Clements told her to. “He hurt him,” she said.
Clements, who is now 20, was 17 when the crime happened. He faces charges of first-degree murder, tampering with evidence, and conspiracy to commit murder. His trial is scheduled to start on January 13.
The tragedy unfolded in Miramar, Florida, a case that has left a community reeling and questioning how something so senseless could happen among teenagers.
