Andre Lanier is a drug dealer and assailant responsible for getting in a fight with Jay Linnet over territory at a club. Jay's girlfriend Rachel Melhan was punched by Lanier, and her face was cut by his ring.
When Rachel was and raped and murdered, left in an alley with scanty clothes and makeup, Jay led detectives to Lanier. He tried to deny the incident, but his ring was obviously what left the cut on Rachel's face. The two men were still cleared of suspicion. (CI: "Love Sick")