A wrongful-death complaint alleges that Commanders players Benjamin St-Juste and Jamin Davis, as well as former member Deshazor Everett, were racing their cars the night Everett’s long-time girlfriend, Olivia Peters, was killed in a car accident.
Kathleen Peters, Peters’ mother, filed the complaint in Loudoun County Circuit Court on December 22, asking for $25 million in damages and a jury trial. The suit claims that the defendants “came together and conspired and planned to engage in unlawful and criminal behaviour” and that “Everett’s actions in speeding and driving recklessly in furtherance of the conspiracy were a direct and proximate cause” of Peters’ injuries and death.
Peters died on December 23, 2021, after travelling in a 2010 Nissan GT-R driven by Everett in Loudoun County. Everett swerved, hit several trees, and rolled. He was ejected from the car, leaving Peters stranded inside. She was rescued from the vehicle and taken to StoneSprings Hospital Centre, where she was pronounced dead due to internal bleeding. Everett sustained serious but not life-threatening injuries. The Commanders, the NFL, and Mark Dycio and Kaveh Noorishad, attorneys for St-Juste, Davis, and Everett, all declined to comment on the complaint.
According to the lawsuit, Everett, St-Juste, and Davis, all members of Washington’s roster at the time, intended that evening “to’show off’ and race their cars on public roads.” According to the lawsuit, Everett’s automobile was loaded with nitrous oxide, which can increase horsepower but is banned in Virginia, as well as racing tires and a roll cage. Davis drove a McLaren, while St. Juste drove a customised Audi A6.
According to the lawsuit, the three gathered at Shahidul Islam’s car business in Loudoun County before driving away. Everett had a GoPro camera mounted to his car, which was capturing the events. According to the complaint, the respondents “drove at high rates of speed well in excess of the posted speed limits,” “changed lanes erratically and without signalling,” “crossed over double yellow lines and drove in the opposite lane of traffic” or “raced each other on multiple occasions.” According to the lawsuit, the defendants exchanged text messages and had phone and in-person conversations “concerning their illegal and reckless conduct, specifically racing,” According to the lawsuit, Everett stated at one point during the evening: “I told them it was fast, but they didn’t believe me. So I simply wanted to go out and show them.”
According to the initial report from the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, Everett was travelling at speeds above 90 mph before to the incident. However, the Loudoun County crash reconstruction team later painted a different image of the incident, citing data from the black box and witness testimony, according to Everett’s sentencing document. St-Juste told officers Everett was going around 50 mph.
Everett was first charged with involuntary manslaughter, but pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of careless driving and was sentenced to three months house arrest. His licence was also suspended, and he was required to pay a fine, do community service, and make a public service statement about safe driving. Davis was charged with careless driving (89 mph in a 65 mph zone) four days before the accident. The charge has been reduced to an infraction. Three months after the crash, Davis was charged with reckless driving again, this time for allegedly driving his McLaren at 114 mph in a 45-mph zone. He was convicted and sentenced to 30 days in jail, but he appealed and is now awaiting another hearing on March 4.
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