Latest news with #CastlemontHighSchool
San Francisco Chronicle
27-06-2025
- San Francisco Chronicle
Driver's disabilities led to CHP chase and crash that killed Oakland teacher, lawyer says
An 18-year-old man who authorities say led the California Highway Patrol on a chase in Oakland and then crashed into two pedestrians, killing a beloved high school teacher, has cognitive disabilities that cause him to panic and act on impulse, according to his attorney. Scared after he sped away from CHP officers who tried to pull him over, Eric Hernandez-Garcia called his special education teacher to ask for guidance, attorney Martin Caraves said in court documents, offering new details about the May 28 incident. His first instinct upon fleeing was not to endanger others, Caraves said, 'but to seek help from a trusted adult — his special education teacher.' 'His actions were a desperate and misguided attempt to flee, not a deliberate effort to injure anyone,' the attorney said. The teacher, Caraves said, instructed Hernandez-Garcia to drive to her house, which his client did. But after he parked and got out, a patrol car pulled up. He drove away in a state of 'escalating panic,' driven by his cognitive disabilities, Caraves said. Police and prosecutors have charged Hernandez-Garcia with vehicular manslaughter and other felonies in connection with the pursuit and crash, which killed Castlemont High School teacher Marvin Boomer and seriously injured Boomer's partner, Nina Woodruff. The couple had been walking on East 21st Street when they were struck. Caraves said Hernandez-Garcia has been diagnosed with a 'specific learning disability,' a term for conditions that impact academic skills, and a so-called 'other health impairment,' a health-related condition that impacts academic performance. Hernandez-Garcia's disabilities, Caraves said, 'primarily affect his attention and executive functioning,' a term for cognitive processes and mental skills. 'The defense is actively investigating just how Eric's cognitive disabilities and his mental state contributed to this catastrophic outcome,' the attorney said. It was unclear whether Hernandez-Garcia had a driver's license, given his disabilities. In an interview, Caraves declined to say. The Alameda County District Attorney's Office declined to comment on Caraves' filings. A spokeswoman for the Boomer family did not respond to a request for comment. In filing the documents, Caraves pushed for $50,000 bail for Hernandez-Garcia, but at a hearing last week, Alameda Superior Court Judge Elena Condes rejected the request: She ordered Hernandez-Garcia to remain in jail on a no-bail status, finding it was a necessary move to protect the public. Hernandez-Garcia, who turned 18 nearly three months before the crash, has dealt with disabilities since first grade, according to the court filings. He graduated from Arise High School a few weeks ago and planned to study welding at Universal Technical Institute in Sacramento, Caraves said in the documents. The filings included letters in which acquaintances, including Catholic clergy, attested to Hernandez-Garcia's character, describing him as a kind, non-violent young man with strong ties to St. Elizabeth Parish in East Oakland since 2011. Over the years, he volunteered at the church. The letters, Caraves said, show Hernandez-Garcia, who had no prior criminal history, 'made a terrible mistake in a state of fear and panic.' The tragic series of events started with a pursuit after CHP officers tried to stop a car in a parking lot around 7:30 p.m. The car was wanted in connection with a past incident in which it fled from Alameda sheriff's deputies, authorities said. Within 40 seconds, as the driver sped away, the CHP called off the pursuit, the agency said. Instead a CHP plane followed the car. About 15 minutes into the incident, the driver, later identified as Hernandez-Garcia, pulled over and briefly got out of the car, but as officers in a patrol car pulled up, he jumped back in and drove off again, according to the CHP and aerial footage. The officers gave chase for about 30 seconds, until the driver crashed into a minivan near an intersection. As the driver continued to drive away, the CHP plane continued to track the car. Some 20 seconds later, the speeding driver careened onto a sidewalk and slammed into a fire hydrant, a tree and Boomer and Woodruff, according to CHP and Ring home surveillance camera footage obtained by the Chronicle. Woodruff previously told the Chronicle she saw the car hurtle toward them. Then, in an instant, she said, she blacked out. Woodruff blamed both the CHP and the driver for the crash. Woodruff said she saw a law enforcement vehicle behind the car before she blacked out, but CHP footage does not show a police vehicle pursuing Hernandez-Garcia at the time he struck the couple. After the crash, Hernandez-Garcia ran away, but officers chased him down about a block away. In the moments after he was arrested, he told officers he had never been pulled over before. 'I was nervous,' he said, standing on a sidewalk in handcuffs, according to dash cam footage obtained by the Chronicle. When an officer brought up that the car he was in was wanted, Hernandez-Garcia replied that the car was previously stolen, according to the video. 'And right now I was scared,' he said. 'Have you not been scared before?' 'You scared me … the way you were driving,' an officer responded. 'I was scared the whole time.' In an interview, Caraves said the car Hernandez-Garcia was driving was registered to his mother. He declined to comment on the incident for which it was wanted, except to say he had not yet received or reviewed a police report on the incident. Caraves said he does not view Hernandez-Garcia's mental state at the time of the pursuit and crash as a 'defense, per se,' although he said he plans to have a psychologist evaluate Hernandez-Garcia and may try to divert the case to a court program that would allow Hernandez-Garcia to opt for mental health treatment as an alternative to prosecution. 'That's something we're exploring,' the attorney said.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Yahoo
Marvin Boomer's family to sue CHP, city over crash that killed Oakland teacher
The Brief An attorney for Marvin Boomer's family says they plan to sue Oakland, CHP and the driver involved in a crash that killed the popular teacher last week. The crash involved a car that had been pursued by CHP moments earlier. The announcement followed a memorial service Friday afternoon celebrating Boomer's life. OAKLAND, Calif. - Loved ones of cherished Castlemont High School teacher Marvin Boomer slammed police Friday, announcing they're planning legal action over an Oakland crash that took his life last week. It stemmed from a California Highway Patrol chase through a residential neighborhood. The family's attorney, Michelle Barnard, told KTVU late Friday afternoon, "We are planning legal action and expect to file suit in the next week." She said "the driver, the City of Oakland, CHP and possibly OPD" would be named in the lawsuit. What they're saying "Marvin Boomer Jr. should be alive today," said Bernard. In a press conference Friday, those close to Boomer called his death an injustice. "He died a hero, and we will not allow that heroism to be silenced by bureaucratic excuses or policy failures cloaked in blue," said Bernard. The backstory On May 28, Boomer, 40, was walking with his partner, Nina Woodruff, on East 21st Street. A car came careening toward them. He pushed her to safety as a fire hydrant hit him. "My physical pain is nothing compared to where my heart is, it's broken," said Woodruff. The car that injured Woodruff and killed Boomer was being pursued by CHP, which says they called off the chase moments before the crash. The driver, Eric Hernandez-Garcia, was arrested. "It's not fair to any of us that we have to live on streets that are inhabited by behaviors like this," said Woodruff. Loved ones believe a chase like this--and the deadly crash that followed--would never have happened in a more affluent neighborhood. "What happened to my brother was senseless, tragic, reckless. Our family is completely heartbroken," said Tynesha Boomer, Marvin Boomer's sister. Inside Acts Full Gospel Church in Oakland, a memorial service paid tribute to Boomer's life and legacy. Local perspective "He's a gem, just a one-of-a-kind person," said Castlemont High School principal Joseph Blasher. "He could have taken his PhD anywhere. Instead, he planted himself right in Oakland, because he believed that education changes everything, and it does," said Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee. Colleagues say the cherished math teacher saw something in his students that few others did: potential. "I regret that he's not going to be the one delivering so many amazing things to so many amazing people that we work with," said Blasher. "That was my baby," said Marvin Boomer's mother, Dorothenia Martin Boomer. "That was my son, my only. My beloved." The Boomer family now says they will honor his memory by fighting for justice and change. "You may not be here, but your work will continue," said Marvin Boomer, Sr. What's next CHP and the City of Oakland both declined to comment on the planned lawsuit. Hernandez-Garcia is expected to enter a plea on vehicular manslaughter and other charges later this month. The Source Original KTVU reporting
CBS News
07-06-2025
- CBS News
Family, community mourn Oakland teacher killed by vehicle fleeing CHP
Family, friends, and students gathered at an East Oakland church Friday afternoon to honor the life of Dr. Marvin Boomer Jr., a Castlemont High School teacher who was killed in a crash last month. Boomer's partner, Nina Woodruff, spoke through tears at the emotional memorial service at Acts Full Gospel Church, recounting the night of the tragedy and their deep connection. "He called me Mrs. Everything, and I called him Dr./Mr. Wonderful Boomer," Woodruff said. The couple had been out for an evening walk near the intersection of East 21st Street and 12th Avenue when an out-of-control car struck them on the sidewalk. Woodruff, who is still recovering from her injuries, believes Boomer saved her life. "I'm hurt, and my physical pain is nothing compared to where my heart is. It's broken," she said. Authorities said the driver, Eric Hernandez Garcia, lost control of the vehicle while fleeing from the California Highway Patrol. The CHP said its officers had already ended the pursuit before the crash occurred. "We had no idea what we were walking into. It's reckless. It's not fair," said Woodruff. "There's enough blame to go around to everyone that participated in what happened to my Mr. Wonderful." Boomer's family echoed her pain, directing anger toward law enforcement and the circumstances surrounding his death. "What happened to my brother was senseless, tragic, reckless," said his sister Tynesha Boomer. "Our family is completely heartbroken. It doesn't make any sense what happened. It makes zero sense." Boomer was a beloved teacher at Castlemont High School, where he was known for his passion for education and commitment to serving students in underserved communities. "Marvin loved his community. He was driven by his desire to want to help people," said his father, Marvin Boomer Sr. "He loved Oakland. He loved his students," added his mother, Tina Boomer. During the open-casket service, which was attended by students, colleagues, and community members, Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee read a proclamation in Boomer's honor. "He taught math, yes, but what he really taught was possibility - that an equation can open a door, and that a seed can grow into a meal, and yes, that a paycheck can grow into a career," said Lee. Woodruff said she is drawing strength from the many students Boomer mentored and inspired during his career. "It's not fair. It's not right. I'm angry," she said. The Boomer family's attorney, Michelle Bernard, announced that the family plans to file a civil lawsuit in the coming weeks. The suit will be directed at the driver, the CHP, and possibly the City of Oakland.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Yahoo
‘Be like Boomer': Oakland teacher mourned at large memorial service
OAKLAND, Calif. (KRON) — Castlemont High School teacher Marvin Boomer was honored and remembered by family members, students, friends, and city leaders Friday during a large memorial service at Acts Full Gospel Church in Oakland. Boomer was killed in May 28, just two days before his senior students received their diplomas at Castlemont High School's graduation ceremony. Boomer and his girlfriend, Nina, were out on an evening stroll May 28 when a stolen car zoomed through an Oakland neighborhood and crashed into them on a sidewalk, investigators said. Less than a minute before the crash, the teenaged driver was chased by California Highway Patrol officers. The teacher pushed his girlfriend out of the direct path of a car that slammed into Boomer, according to a home surveillance video reviewed by KRON4 and a statement from his family. His family described the act of heroism as 'a final act of love and selflessness,' his family wrote. East Oakland community members were invited to attend the church service, which was also livestreamed by Acts Full Gospel Church. Nina was emotional as she talked about the love of her life. 'I called him 'Mr. Wonderful.' Marvin and I shared something special, it was rare. It was deeply rooted in honesty, intention, and love. We knew everything about each other, not just the easy parts, but the hard truths,' Nina said. She also spoke about the tragedy, and remembered seeing a CHP patrol car racing by. 'We didn't even know what we were walking into. Speeding through neighborhoods, high speed chases through residential neighborhoods, should not be commonplace in the city that I love. I was raised in East Oakland. It's sad to say I lost the love of my life in Oakland. And I'm mad. It was preventable. No one should have to endure this,' Nina said. The math teacher is remembered for taking students under his wings as Castlemont's College and Career Pathways Coach, as well as making 'being smart cool,' friends said. Boomer had recently completed his Ph.D in Educational Research and Policy Analysis. One of the teacher's best friends stood up in the church and said, 'Be like Boomer.' Students said their teacher cared about them, he could turn any bad day around into a good day, and he was always smiling. One Castlemont student said she had promised Boomer that she would return a stuffed bear that she borrowed from school after she graduated. The recent graduate gave the stuffed bear to his family on Friday. 'Dr. Boomer was more than a teacher — he was a mentor, a friend, and a source of strength and inspiration in the halls of Castlemont. His legacy will live on in the school community and in the countless lives he helped shape,' Oakland Unified School District officials wrote. Family members decided to have an open-casket viewing Friday because the teacher had a widespread impact spreading his joy for learning and education. A verified GoFundMe page is raising donations to honor Boomer's legacy. Nina said, 'I am grateful to have known him. I hope you will use his life as a call to action. To smile every day. Use his life as a light to be your best self.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Tributes pour in for 'Dr. Boomer,' Castlemont math teacher killed in Oakland chase
OAKLAND, Calif. - On the day that he was killed – caught up as an innocent bystander in a CHP pursuit of a stolen car suspect – Castlemont High School math teacher Marvin Boomer was dressed in a plaid jacket and tie. Boomer was participating in an Urban Design Academy Pathway project that involved students giving presentations on the sustainability of the Coliseum stadium. Ray Bobbitt, founder of the African American Sports Entertainment Group, was there. "He looked like a Harvard professor," his Castlemont colleague, George Arterberry, said on Friday night as more than 100 people came out to mourn his death. "And he wanted these kids to know this: that it matters. He dressed like it was an inauguration. Nobody else does that." That was just one of the many stories colleagues, students and strangers told about Boomer, 40, who was killed in a freak accident on Wednesday at 7:45 p.m. at East 21st Street and Park Boulevard while he was taking an evening stroll with his girlfriend – hours after that Urban Design Academy presentation. But just as he was walking on the sidewalk, California Highway Patrol officers were in pursuit of an 18-year-old who they say stole an Infiniti G35 and then was driving "recklessly" in an attempt to evade police. The teenage driver, Eric Hernandez-Garcia, ended up striking a minivan with two people inside, and then, five blocks later, a parked car, a tree and a fire hydrant, which ended up getting knocked off its base and flying into Boomer – some of which was captured on a neighbor's Ring video. Water spewed all over the neighborhood. Boomer's girlfriend went up the stairs to a pastor's home to get help. But it was too late. Boomer had died. Hernandez-Garcia was charged with seven felonies on Friday, including vehicular manslaughter, to which he did not enter a plea. Castlemont High also held its graduation of seniors earlier in the day, and at 6 p.m., many of his students and co-workers gathered at the site where he was killed. People praised Boomer's brilliance, his humility and his love of the underserved community in which he had called home for nearly a decade, after moving to Oakland from Memphis, Tenn. "Memphis is a lot like Oakland, just bigger and Blacker," Arterberry said, noting that they had both worked at Castlemont High for eight years, two doors down from each other. "So he knew this kind of ZIP code. So he took to the 'Deep East' very quickly. And this man was a master degree Black math teacher." Arterberry described Boomer's math class as the place to be. The blinds were closed. Soft jazz played. Boomer lit up a lava lamp. "And his class was just getting off on doing math," Arterberry said. "It was very chill." Several students, current and former, said that Boomer was the only math teacher who made the subject understandable for them. He also had a sense of humor. One student referred to him as "Mr. Boom Boom." Only one speaker took to the microphone to bring up the highly controversial matter of police chases, as the issue has been thrust into the spotlight by Gov. Gavin Newsom, who implored Oakland in December 2024 to loosen its chase policies to that of the CHP, where officers can pursue suspects for crimes that are not violent. Newsom and others say that Oakland is a magnet for criminals who know they can get away with stealing property if law enforcement won't go after them. But advocates of Oakland's more strict pursuit policy point to tragedies like the one that befell Boomer as a reason to abort a chase if it's not an urgent matter of life or death. A man who identified himself as Jaime from Dare to Struggle Bay Area, said that it's "really upsetting" not to place blame for Boomer's death on the CHP. But Cat Brooks, founder of the Anti Police-Terror Project and the organizer of the vigil, quickly shut him down, saying that Boomer's family and friends did not want to shadow the event with talk of politics and blame. Instead, the crowd was there to honor a man who held education on a pedestal. Boomer – Dr. Boomer – as many people called him, earned his Master's degree in teaching from Belmont University and a PhD in philosophy and educational research and policy analysis from North Carolina State University, according to his LinkedIn. He was hired at Castlemont High in 2017 and has been there ever since. One friend, who was wearing a "Danger: Education Black Man" shirt, described how he loved having long talks with Boomer about a variety of deep subjects. "Boomer was a Black man and he was a doctor," his friend said. "That's even more rare than a unicorn. We lost a star here and this did not have to happen." In addition to loving school and his students, friends described Boomer as a foodie and a God-fearing man. They said he had no biological children, but he poured that fatherly energy into his students. Arterberry mentioned that Boomer had two brothers who died and had two or three sisters. Boomer's girlfriend, who was injured in the pursuit, did not appear to be at the vigil. But many of his "Castle" colleagues were, as were Councilwoman Charlene Wang and state Assemblywoman Mia Bonta. That includes Castlemont teacher Brenda Franklin, who saw him after his Coliseum presentation on Wednesday, when he shared a bit of his celebratory Raising Cane's lemonade with him. She called him "brilliant," a "visionary," a "leader." Franklin also said that Boomer encouraged her to go back to school to get her masters. She recalled a time when he came to her house for six hours to help her apply to school. "You can go to school, you can get your masters," she recalled him saying. She earned her higher degree last June. "I got in graduate school, y'all, because of Dr. Boomer believing in me," she said. "I might go get my doctorate now in the name of him.
