Sentenced: Cherish Smith Killed 2 Weeks After Giving Birth By Rhykem Rogers

[Sugar Cookie]

Feb 26, 2018

A 23-year-old woman was shot and killed just two weeks after giving birth to a baby girl, according to authorities in Louisiana.

The Baker Police Department said Cherish Smith was shot in the stomach Sunday morning. She died of her injuries at the hospital.

Police later arrested Rhykem Rogers, 27, who lived with Smith and her two children. According to WAFB, investigators believe Rogers was shooting at a small dog when a bullet hit Smith, who was trying to save the animal.

Police Chief Carl Dunn said the young mother was taken too soon, according to the news station. Her two children were reportedly inside the home at the time of the shooting.

“For me to imagine these two young children – one is 2-weeks-old, one is 3-years-old – to grow up without their mother. That’s heartbreaking,” Baker Police Chief Car Dunn said in an interview.

Rogers is facing charges of negligent homicide and illegal discharge of a firearm.

Although the police chief could not confirm the relationship between Rogers and Smith, court filings from 2016 refer to Smith as Rogers' girlfriend, the Advocate reported.

http://www.wsmv.com/story/37588952/mother-of-2-dies-trying-to-protect-dog-from-gunfire-police-say

 

[chupamela]

Damn, i thought the title was sad enough. Nothing a little dog could have done deserves a bullet now 2 little ones will never know their mother and this POS will never get the punishment he deserves until he dies and rots in hell.

 

[Keepalowprofile]

. Rogers was shooting at a small dog when a bullet hit Smith, who was trying to save the animal.

She was a good person.

 

[Sejanus]

He is an asshole and a piss poor aim.

 

[Stormcloud]

She was trying to save something innocent, and was killed for it. May this guy rot in hell for eternity, as far away from the children as possible, because I have the horrible feeling he'll claim that because they were created using his seed (whether they were or not...) that he should have the raising of them.

He killed their mother, he shouldn't get to spend one second with those littles.

 

[Sevens My Charm]

Rogers was arrested and charged with negligent homicide and illegal use of a weapon. His bond was set at $31,000

 

[Pandorama]

I bet he was trying to shoot the dog to emotionally/mentally abuse her. Was probably her pet. And when she tried to stop him and save her pet he thought 'oh well, you wanna step in the way?'
This wasn't an accident. He didn't care if she got in the way

 

[Sugar Cookie]

In February of 2018, a 23-year-old Baker woman named Cherish Smith was accidentally shot to death by her partner, Rhykem Rogers and now, over two years later Rogers' fate has been decided by a Louisiana court.

According to court documents, the 30-year-old Rogers father of two children who he and Smith raised together, has been sentenced to two years behind bars followed by active supervised probation with the state Department of Public Safety and Corrections for three years after his release from prison.

In addition to this, State District Judge Tarvald Smith also fined Rogers to $5,000 last week.

Earlier this year, Rogers pleaded guilty to negligent homicide in the death of his late girlfriend.


The two were residing in Baker and had recently celebrated the birth of their second child when, according to an arrest report, Rogers went out with his mother and brother to have a few drinks and returned to the couple's McHugh Road home with his brother.

But, the arrest report goes on to say that the evening soured when the two brothers got into an argument that escalated to a violent display.

Rogers released his brother's pit bull from the backyard and started shooting at the dog with a semi-automatic handgun as the dog ran across the street, the report states, firing four or five rounds.

In a tragic accident, Rogers bullets missed the dog but accidentally hit Smith in the stomach, an injury that resulted in her death.

Rogers' attorney, Neal Wilkinson, spoke with reporters from The Advocate on Wednesday, saying, "He loved this young woman and they were preparing to be married and raise their family. He has lost his fiancee and these two beautiful children have lost their mother.

"She cannot be replaced and will be missed by everyone. The family on both sides love this young woman and are devastated by that loss," he added. "Everyone involved needs our prayers and support and my heart goes out to them all."

Judge Smith initially sentenced Rogers to five years in prison but eventually suspended three of those years.

The special conditions of Rogers probation include stipulations that he pay $65 a month to settle the supervision costs; undergo a substance abuse evaluation and follow any recommended treatment; remain arrest and conviction free, as well as drug and alcohol free; and complete a firearm training course upon completion of his probation.

Gunman in 2018 accidental shooting death sentenced to two years in prison, $5,000 fine

According to court documents, 30-year-old Rhykem Rogers has been sentenced to two years behind bars followed by active supervised probation with the state Department of Public Safety and Corrections for three years after his release from prison for accidentally shooting his girlfriend to death...

www.wbrz.com

 

[SimplySpaztastic]

Gunman in 2018 accidental shooting death sentenced to two years in prison, $5,000 fine

According to court documents, 30-year-old Rhykem Rogers has been sentenced to two years behind bars followed by active supervised probation with the state Department of Public Safety and Corrections for three years after his release from prison for accidentally shooting his girlfriend to death...

www.wbrz.com

So what this article is saying is that if he has been in jail since the shooting, he is either eligible for release or already on parole...

 

[Sugar Cookie]

The special conditions of Rogers probation include stipulations that he pay $65 a month to settle the supervision costs; undergo a substance abuse evaluation and follow any recommended treatment; remain arrest and conviction free, as well as drug and alcohol free; and complete a firearm training course upon completion of his probation.

Gunman in 2018 accidental shooting death sentenced to two years in prison, $5,000 fine

According to court documents, 30-year-old Rhykem Rogers has been sentenced to two years behind bars followed by active supervised probation with the state Department of Public Safety and Corrections for three years after his release from prison for accidentally shooting his girlfriend to death...

www.wbrz.com

He should never be allowed to own or handle a gun again.

 

[McDanel]

He should never be allowed to own or handle a gun again.

Yeah, the "firearms training" blew my mind as well! How about he doesn't have a gun anymore?

 

[Satanica]

Two years? Did I read that correctly? I suspect he will fuck up during his supervision period, and I just hope no one dies. It's truly incomprehensible that he will still be able to have guns. In what universe is that logical?