Community remembers Oakland teacher struck by reckless driver in emotional vigil
OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) -- As the Castlemont High School class of 2025 graduates prepared for their ceremony at Paramount Theater in Oakland on Friday, one big presence was missing.
"'Boomer' was a very inspirational person to me. A male figure. He showed us the ropes," said Elijah Washington, one of the graduating seniors.
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Washington is talking about Dr. Marvin Boomer, affectionately known as "Boomer." He worked at Castlemont High for eight years. First as a math teacher, more recently as a college and career coach with the Pathways program. He was struck by a car and killed Wednesday night, two days before graduation.
Doctor Boomer was Erinea Newsome's former teacher. She says he motivated her when times were tough, told her to stay focused and get to graduation. Which she did - with honors.
"Which is why I am graduating today. I completed it and did very well. He is just very inspiring, inspirational. Like I said, he was very nice," said Newsome.
Since Thursday, friends and neighbors gathered at the intersection where Dr. Boomer was hit and killed by an SUV involved in a CHP chase through Oakland, a chase which CHP says was called off shortly before the fatal crash.
Doorbell camera video shows the moment when the driver lost control and hit Dr. Boomer, as he and his girlfriend were out on an evening walk. Dr. Boomer died on scene.
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The driver of the alleged stolen car was identified by the Alameda County District Attorney's Office as 18-year-old Eric Hernandez Garcia. Garcia was chased down and caught by OPD and CHP. On Friday, Garcia was arraigned. He faces multiple felony counts, including vehicular manslaughter.
"So unfortunate. The Castlemont family continues to lose these pillars in their community. It is just so important to have, you know, the community surround these kids," says Jasmine Washington, Elijah's stepmom.
She says she is proud of her son. Elijah earned a full-ride to Oregon State to play football. Elijah says Dr. Boomer helped him get there.
"It is just to always finish. No matter what you do, you do it at 110%. And finish strong," said Elijah. "I know he is watching and I know he is proud."
Oakland community remembers Castlemont teacher during emotional vigil
Friday night an emotional vigil was held as community members mourned the loss of an Oakland teacher killed Wednesday night.
Marvin Boomer died when a driver lost control of his vehicle after being chased by CHP.
One by one, friends of the late Marvin Boomer spoke at a candlelight vigil in Oakland.
Remembering the Castlemont teacher who meant so much to them.
"The first thing he said was 'Hey welcome, my name is Boomer,' and he just cared about everyone and there's not one person he didn't lend a hand to, not one," said one woman.
Boomer was killed Wednesday. He was walking along the sidewalk with his partner near a tree, and in front of a house, when a car that had previously been chased by CHP, ran off the road, hitting and killing him.
"Do we just let them run wild or do we chase them? There has to be a balance there right? Where's that balance?" asked neighbor Cross Lum.
While there was anger among some, the focus at this event was remembering Dr. Boomer.
"Boomer loved Oakland, he could have left, he was a star, he was a doctor, he could have went anywhere. They asked him to come other places. He outgrew his position at Castlemont so they created a new level for him and he still wasn't on his level. Boomer was somebody, we lost somebody here," said one man.
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"Less than 2% of Black men are in the field of education and he just shined, truly and had such an impact on everyone," said a woman from Youth UpRising.
"He did his PhD in education and his dissertation was about school closures and he's just the friendliest person," said his neighbor and friend Alejandra Vargas-Johnson.
Strong emotions as Marvin Boomer's friends spoke. Everyone with a story to tell.
His fellow instructor at Castlemont High School was about to lose his classroom, one that meant so much to him. Boomer understood that and worked so he could keep it.
"If I had the opportunity I would tell Boomer, Boomer come back, get your room. I'd rather have you here than to have that room," said the fellow teacher.
"I'm gonna hold him in my heart forever, he is such a special person. My heart goes out to the family and everyone here, we love you Boomer."
