Father: ‘He had a big heart’
Weeping aloud and clutching a framed photograph of her grandson, Martha Keller pleaded to more than 100 people who gathered at a Sunday candlelight vigil in his memory, “Never forget him.”
Martha, accompanied by her husband, Elmo Sr. and surrounded by family and friends at the East Bank Bridge Park in Destrehan, thanked the crowd for honoring Weston Keller. In the darkness, they gathered around the family, lit candles and recounted their experiences with Weston.
“He loved everyone,” Martha said. “He will be missed.”
Weston’s death stunned family and friends, who were still trying to make sense of what had happened to a man who they say helped everyone.
“It was senseless,” said Weston’s brother, Dennis Keller of Metairie.
Last Thursday, the 25-year-old was shot fatally once in the chest with a .38-caliber handgun after an apparent argument where 68-year-old Donald Daughdrill accused Weston of stealing money from him, according to St. Charles Parish Sheriff Greg Champagne. Both were living with Keller’s maternal grandmother in the 3700 block of Tara Drive. Deputies were called to the home and found Weston lying on the floor of the residence unresponsive. He was declared dead at the scene.
Daughdrill, a longtime friend of Weston’s maternal grandmother, had been allowed to stay at her home for more than a year because of health issues. He has been charged with manslaughter in the shooting. He is being held in Nelson Coleman Correctional Center on $500,000 bond.
Martha Keller called Weston “a beautiful boy” who often asked his Spanish grandmother to make enchiladas to share with his friends – and she was glad to do it.
Aside her was Weston’s girlfriend of eight months, Niki Cofini of New Orleans, who Martha said had made her grandson extremely happy.
Weston’s father, Elmo Keller Jr., recalled his son’s challenges and how he worked through them.
“He had the biggest heart,” said Elmo. “He was a gentle giant.”
Denise Keller, Weston’s mother and former volleyball coach at Destrehan High School, died of cancer two years ago. Friends added that Weston also was grieving twins lost at birth.
Elmo recalled his son’s recent visit to his mother’s grave, the first since her death, and he wondered about the timing. He visited the grave with Cofini.
Martha added Weston has promised her he’d always be there for his sister, Alexis.
“Now he’s with his mother and will protect her from heaven,” said Martha displaying his photograph to the crowd. “I love you, baby.”
Alexis thanked the crowd for loving her brother.
“He will be dearly missed,” she said.
A weeping Neil Fontenot Jr. of Destrehan told the crowd about his friend, “I just looked up to him so much. He wouldn’t want us to be sad.”
Khristina Noland, a school friend of Keller who organized the gathering, added, “Everybody is still in shock that anything happened to him,” she said. “He had a hard life, but he overcame everything. He didn’t let anything stop him. He kept moving on.”
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