Sherrell Harris Jr. was struck and killed while helping a disabled vehicle on the side of the road. Image courtesy of Twitter / @SirKefa
Louisiana State Police are investigating after a Vernon Parish man was struck and killed by a vehicle on Tuesday near Highway 171, a deadly incident that was followed by racist and incendiary remarks by the driver.
Sherell Lewis Jr., 31, of Leesville had stopped to remove debris from the middle of the freeway when he was struck by a pick-up truck Tuesday afternoon, according to local reports. Lewis, a beloved barber in the community, was rushed to the hospital but later succumbed to his injuries during medical treatment.
According to local station KALB, LSP Troopers spoke with the driver, Matthew Martin, at the scene and questioned him and other witnesses about the incident. It was Martin’s Facebook and Snapchat posts following the crash, however, that has folks up in arms. Screenshots of his cell phone revealed exactly what Martin thought of Lewis, as he repeatedly referred to the slain man using the n-word.
https://twitter.com/CulbertMarquan/status/1001648751973412864
“Y’all, I just hit a whole guy on the highway,” the 18-year-old wrote on Snapchat, followed by several laughing emojis.
In a text chat between him and someone else, Martin tells a friend he hit “some n-gger” on the highway, adding that the impact “f—–d up” his truck pretty good.
Vernon Parish Sheriff John S. Craft said he was “appalled” by the messages.
” … This post is unacceptable and has no place in our society,” Craft said in a statement. Adding, “The inflammatory words that were used were morally wrong. I have the utmost confidence in the Louisiana State Police and their ability to thoroughly investigate this incident [and] I encourage any citizen who has information regarding the accident to contact the Louisiana State Police.”
While Martin’s language was offensive and socially unacceptable, Craft said the post itself didn’t violate any Louisiana criminal code. That hasn’t stopped local activists from rallying for justice on Lewis’ behalf. Locals have reportedly pressed police to investigate Martin for possible vehicular homicide but claim authorities have been unwilling to cooperate.
One concerned citizen who called the police over the incident said he was hung up on after going back and forth with an officer about the investigation.
https://youtu.be/69qusUSydCk
News of Lewis’ death has sparked the hashtag #Justice4Rell, as friends and supporters took to social media to celebrate his life. There were also those who were relentless in their call for justice in the young man’s death.
https://twitter.com/karios_j/status/1001761368083755008
This ish so crazy! I still can’t believe the sadness behind this whole situation. I know many of us couldn’t sleep well last night with this on mind… I wonder how Matthew Martin slept 🤔 #JUSTICEFORRELL #JUSTICE4RELL
— Kayla Nicole Johnson (@keonasmommi2015) May 30, 2018
https://twitter.com/WillhavMERCY4/status/1001801050578391040
https://twitter.com/xavier_evans3/status/1001686305191931909
HAPPY BDAY MY BOY❗️🎊❤️you will never be forgotten🤞until we meet again 💔R.I.P UGK RELL #JUSTICE4RELL I love you forever
— LIVINLEGEND (@HOTBOYLEAKY) May 30, 2018
Tuesday’s incident remains under investigation.
