Washington Commanders players named in wrongful death suit

Washington Commanders defensive back Benjamin St-Juste and linebacker Jamin Davis have been named in the wrongful death suit of Olivia Peters, who was killed in a car accident while riding in the vehicle of former Commanders player and boyfriend Deshazor Everett in December 2021.

The deceased’s mother, Kathleen Peters filed a wrongful death suit in Loudoun County, Virginia on Dec. 22, according to the Washington Post. The suit names Everett, St-Juste, and Davis, alleging that the three players were racing their cars the night of the death.

The three players allegedly “came together and conspired and planned to engage in unlawful and criminal behavior” (street racing) and claimed “Everett’s actions in speeding and driving recklessly in furtherance of the conspiracy were a direct and proximate cause” of Peters’ death.

Peters was trapped inside the vehicle following the crash, eventually dying from internal bleeding. Everett was ejected from the vehicle, suffering serious but non-life-threatening injuries

The suit alleges Everett, St-Juste, and Davis planned “to ‘show off’ and race their cars on public roads.” The group “drove at high rates of speed well in excess of the posted speed limits,” “changed lanes erratically and without signaling,” “crossed over double yellow lines and drove in the opposite lane of traffic” and “raced each other on multiple occasions.”

Everett had a GoPro camera attached to his car that recorded the events. His 2010 Nissan GT-R was also equipped with nitrous oxide, racing tires, and a roll cage. Nitrous oxide is illegal in Virginia.

The three also exchanged text messages and had conversations over the phone and in person about their racing, according to the lawsuit.

The Commanders, the NFL, and the attorneys for St-Juste, Davis, and Everett all declined to comment on the suit.

Four days before the crash, Davis was charged with reckless driving after doing 89 mph in a 65 mph zone. Three months after the crash, Davis was charged once again for allegedly driving his McLaren 114 mph in a 45-mph zone. He was convicted and sentenced to 30 days of jail time, but he appealed the charge and will undergo another hearing on March 4.