Sunrise

Candlelight Vigil Held for Teen Killed After Car Crashed into Sunrise Canal

A candlelight vigil was held Saturday night for 16-year-old Sherwenly Luxilien, one of two Plantation High School students killed Wednesday after their car ended up in a canal

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Family, friends and the community remembered a teen who died after the car he was in went into a canal in Sunrise earlier this week.

A candlelight vigil was held Saturday night for 16-year-old Sherwenly Luxilien, one of two Plantation High School students killed Wednesday after their car ended up in a canal.

Family and friends described Luxilien as someone who didn’t say much, but his presence was loud enough.

"He was 16 with a 30, 40-year-old mentally and very disciplined,” brother Keveen Valcourt said.

Luxilien’s dream was to join the army. His big brother Valcourt was skeptical at first.

"I said 'alright, I'll support you,' but that wasn't on my top list,” Valcourt said. "I supported him, that was his dream and I saw he wasn't just saying it but working towards it."

Valcourt said his brother meant the world to him and he let everyone know.

"Every day I used to brag about him like he was a brand new car, watch, I used to brag about him,” Valcourt said.

Sunrise Police said Luxilien and 17-year-old Frandeline Joseph died after their car went into a canal off West Oakland Park Boulevard. Surveillance video showed the car the teens were in driving through the parking lot behind Jersey College minutes before.

Both teens were students at Plantation High School.

Luxilien's family and friends hugged each other a little tighter Saturday night. They cried, lit candles and shared stories.

"All these people are here for him, he was loved by many,” Valcourt said.

"It shows me he was a good kid and impacted a lot of people and meant a lot to everybody,” his cousin Shnaida Etienne said.

They also remembered his friend, Joseph who had dreams of becoming a doctor.

"We have God with us and God will help us get through this tough time,” Etienne said.

Police are still investigating how the car went into the canal.

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