Share and Follow
The recent FAMU graduates were struck and killed by an allegedly impaired driver who was being pursued.
HOUSTON, Texas — Best friends and fraternity brothers who were inseparable in life died together early Saturday along Smith Street in Midtown Houston on their way back to their Airbnb.
“They had a very bright future which was taken from them,” said Leonia Williams, mother of Jayden Flemming, who was killed in the wreck.
She flew in from Florida upon news of her son’s death.
“Trying to comprehend and I’m still asking, ‘why?” she said.
Jayden was looking forward to continuing his studies in Germany, while Ronnie Burns II, also 22, had just landed a new job.
Both of them recently graduated from Florida A&M University and were in Houston this weekend for the annual Texas Greek Picnic.
Below is a statement from Texas Greek Picnic.
“I talked to him the Friday afternoon before, and he was very happy, having fun,” Williams said.
“I’m glad I was able to call them my brothers and everything,” friend and fraternity brother Zachary Sewell said. “They’re just one-of-one people, bro, there’s no one else really like them.”
Investigators said they died around 2 a.m. Saturday when an alleged drunk driver ran a red light and struck their SUV, which then hit a building and burst into flames.
At the time, 21-year-old suspect Rene Hernandez was being chased by a Precinct 7 deputy constable for allegedly striking at least one other vehicle without stopping, in addition to running multiple lights.
“Once she observed it, she activated her emergency equipment and her visual and audio equipment and pursued after the truck,” Constable James “Smokie” Phillips said.
He said it appears the deputy followed proper protocols.
“We send our condolences to the families,” Phillips said.
Hernandez was charged with two counts of murder since he was allegedly already committing a felony when he crashed into the friends whose lives, in many ways, were just getting started.
“You know, you can’t do these things. It happens all the time, and the outcome is always this,” Williams said. “You know, why take the risk?”
Hernandez was also injured in the crash and remains in the hospital. He’ll be transferred to the Harris County Jail as soon as possible. A female who was in the truck sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
