She was the matriarch of a close-knit family of faith.
But as Sherell Rena Weston drove home from a baby shower late the evening of April 30, 2022, her life was cut short six weeks shy of her 50th birthday. A Baton Rouge street racer being chased by police ran a red light and crashed into her car.
During an emotional hearing Monday morning inside the 19th Judicial District Courthouse, anguish collided with forgiveness as Weston’s family members watched a Baton Rouge judge sentence Darrien J. Rogers to five years in prison for causing the fatal crash.
District Judge Louise Hines Myers imposed the sentence as part of a plea agreement Rogers reached with state prosecutors when his trial was set to begin May 6. He was sentenced to five years for manslaughter and Judge Hines Myers gave him an additional 10 years for aggravated flight from an officer, but suspended the prison stint tied to that count. She ordered Rogers to serve three years on probation after he’s released from state lockup.
Rogers hit speeds above 100 mph as he fled Baton Rouge police, according to court records. A patrol officer spotted his Dodge Charger speeding westbound along Choctaw Drive, swerving into oncoming lanes, nearly striking several vehicles. Police said he blew through red lights at Acadian Thruway, Plank Road and Scenic Highway.
Rogers continued to drive south on Scenic Highway as police gave chase. The pursuit ended tragically when he ran a red light at the intersection of Fuqua Street and slammed into Weston’s Chevy Cruz. She died at the scene.
“This was the matriarch of our family. Everybody is still lost, everybody is still coping,” the victim’s niece, Germany Vance said at Monday’s sentencing. ““You were being disobedient and you caused all of us to have to take a great deal of sacrifice. All because you didn’t want to listen. You don’t know what stop means. And because you didn’t know what stop means, you stopped all of our lives.”
Loved ones remembered Weston as a grandmother survived by two sons and a daughter. She had recently begun a new career and was director of the Winnfield Funeral Home in Baton Rouge.
Weston’s daughter, Korea Elzy, said she still has feelings of resentment from the devastation of losing her mother, but told Rogers she’s working to forgive him.
“My mom was a very forgiving person, so I’m not raised like that. I’m not going to hate you forever. Sometimes I am going to be mad – I have my moments,” she said “I just want him to take what he’s done and do something better. Use it as a message because this could’ve been avoided. We shouldn’t have to be here today.”
Sheretta Warren, Weston’s only sister, reminded Rogers that his conscious decision to run from law enforcement had fatal consequences that ripped her family apart. She called for accountability but said she had no malice toward him because he did not kill Weston intentionally. Warren turned to Rogers and encouraged him to focus on becoming a better father to his newborn son while he’s behind bars.
“Satan had a plan. And his plan was to steal, kill and destroy. That was his plan,” she said. “But listen to me – God has a plan of his own. And that plan chose grace and mercy. You get to ride on the wings of grace and mercy today because you’re still living. You have a baby; you have a family you’ve started. You get to continue with your life. And I hope it’s positive.”
Family members said Rogers had ties to a street racing crew that staged illegal stunt driving events around the city. It was not immediately clear if he was racing when the fatal crash occurred. Judge Hines ordered him to speak to high school students about his crimes after he’s released from prison and advise them about the dangers of street racing and illegal stunt driving.
Rogers faced Weston’s relatives and expressed contrition for the impact his crime had on their lives. He told them one of the most painful consequences of his negligence is that he will miss the formative years of his son’s life and said the crash still haunts him.
“I’m extremely sorry for what took place. It should not have happened,” he said. “There is no excuse for the decisions that I made. It’s something that I deal with every single day. It replays in my mind. It’s something that I’m struggling to forgive myself for.”