Latest news with #CastlemontHighSchool
Yahoo
2 days ago
- 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.
CBS News
3 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Community mourns beloved Oakland teacher killed by car fleeing from police
OAKLAND — Dozens of friends, coworkers, students, and even strangers gathered Friday evening at the corner of 12th Avenue and East 21st Street in Oakland to remember Dr. Marvin Boomer, a beloved teacher from Castlemont High School who was tragically killed earlier this week. Dr. Boomer, 39, died after being struck by a car that was fleeing from a California Highway Patrol pursuit. He had been out for a walk with his partner, who survived the crash. According to students, she is also a teacher at Castlemont. The emotional vigil came just hours before Castlemont's graduation ceremony at the Paramount Theatre—an event that should have been filled with joy, but was instead marked by grief. Many students credited Dr. Boomer for helping them reach that milestone. "He was a very good advocate for me going to college and finishing," said Castlemont graduate Ellijah Washington. Washington, who earned a full football scholarship to Oregon State University and started college in January, returned to Oakland to walk with his class. "He taught me that anything is possible," Washington added. "You just got to have the focus, have the drive, and really want to do that." Other students echoed those sentiments, remembering Dr. Boomer not just as a teacher, but as a mentor and role model. "He was someone that you could always look up to. He was always there when you needed him," said graduate Emmanuel Abudu. "Inspiring, very inspirational. He was just very bubbly… and he was very nice," added classmate Erinea Newsome. Washington also shared the lessons Dr. Boomer instilled in him—values he now carries into both the classroom and the football field. "Just to always finish—no matter what you do, you do it at 110%, and you finish strong with everything that you do," he said, recalling Dr. Boomer's advice. Among those mourning was Makayla Davis, a sophomore at UC Merced and Castlemont alumna who graduated two years ago. "Mr. Boomer was just a great person, personality and everything. He was just so joyful," Davis said through tears. She credited Dr. Boomer with providing not only guidance and support but real resources to help students succeed. "I want people to remember him as Dr. Boomer—the person that always uplifted everyone, the person that wanted better for all of his students," she said. Dr. Boomer spent the last eight years at Castlemont High, working as a math teacher and College & Career Pathways Coach, according to Oakland Unified School District. Despite his qualifications, students noted, he chose to stay in one of Oakland's most underserved neighborhoods to make a difference. "To hear that it happened, especially the day before our graduation, was very tragic and heartbreaking," Washington said. "But I know he's watching, and I know he's proud. We love him, and we just keep pushing forward." Police said the suspect in the crash—18-year-old Eric Hernandez Garcia—was arrested shortly afterward. The Alameda County District Attorney's Office has charged him with multiple felonies, including vehicular manslaughter, evading police, and felony hit-and-run.
CBS News
3 days ago
- Politics
- CBS News
Pedestrian killed in crash following Oakland CHP chase identified as beloved Castlemont HS teacher
A pedestrian killed by an out-of-control vehicle being chased by officers in Oakland Wednesday was identified as Marvin Boomer, a teacher at Castlemont High School. The Oakland Unified School District on Friday confirmed Boomer was the person killed when a vehicle being pursued by the California Highway Patrol crashed into him while he walked with a companion at 12th Avenue and East 21st Street early Wednesday evening in the city's Clinton neighborhood. His companion suffered minor injuries. Marvin Boomer Oakland Unified School District The district issued the following statement Friday, the day it was holding its graduation ceremony at noon at the city's Paramount Theatre. "Castlemont High School and Oakland Unified School District are in mourning after the shocking loss of a beloved member of the school community. Dr. Marvin Boomer was a pedestrian who died after a tragic car crash on Wednesday, just one day before the end of school. Dr. Boomer was a beloved and vital member of the Castlemont family, having served the past eight years, first as a math teacher then as a College and Career Pathways Coach. His warmth, wisdom, and joyful spirit left a lasting impact on students and fellow educators. "We extend our deepest condolences to everyone impacted by this loss. 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. "Today, the seniors he worked so closely with will walk the stage and receive their diplomas at Castlemont's Commencement Exercise. School staff, families, and the District will celebrate our students' accomplishments with love and excitement just as Dr. Boomer always did, while still holding Dr. Boomer and his family in our hearts." First responders at the scene of a fatal crash of a vehicle into pedestrians near the corner of 12th Avenue and East 21st Street in Oakland, May 29, 2025. KPIX / Stringer The CHP said the pursuit of the vehicle had ended just seconds before the crash. Following the crash, the driver ran from the scene but was quickly caught and arrested. He was identified as 18-year-old Eric Scott Hernandez-Garcia of Oakland. Officers were pursuing his vehicle because it was wanted in connection with a felony evading incident involving the Alameda County Sheriff's Office, the CHP said. A vigil for Boomer was being organized for Friday evening at the site of the fatal crash. The deadly collision happened just days after Oakland's police chief called for more authority to chase violent suspects. The current policy requires officers to end a chase if speeds reach 50 miles per hour, unless approved by a commander.
San Francisco Chronicle
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Olivia Rodrigo sent a special message to this Oakland ‘Jeopardy!' winner
W. Kamau Bell, the Bay Area's newest 'Jeopardy!' champion, received a special message from Olivia Rodrigo following his big win. The pop star sent Bell a video message for his daughter Juno, after the Oakland comic and documentarian said on the quiz show that his 10-year-old trained him on Rodrigo's discography that in turn led to his victory on Season 3 of 'Celebrity Jeopardy!' Following his win last week, Bell turned to his social media followers to help get the attention of Rodrigo to surprise his daughter. 'I just wanna let everybody know that Olivia Rodrigo indeed did say hi to Juno and sent her a very nice video message,' he shared in an Instagram video on Sunday, April 27, adding that he's won't post the pop star's message because 'it's between Juno and Olivia Rodrigo.' Off camera, Juno added that the interaction with the Grammy-winner was 'very good.' 'Now let's leave that wonderful person alone to make the follow up to the album that we've all been waiting for,' Bell concluded, referencing Rodrigo's highly-anticipated third album, which is currently in the works. During the 'Celebrity Jeopardy!' season finale, which aired Wednesday, April 23, Bell correctly identified 'Drivers License' as Rodrigo's ballad named for 'this government-issued form of I.D.,' shortly after sharing with the audience that Juno had quizzed him on the singer in the car that morning. 'I nailed it,' he proudly declared. Despite starting off the game in last place, trailing behind his opponents, 'A Black Lady Sketch Show' comedian Robin Thede and entrepreneur Dave Friedberg, Bell secured the lead by correctly responding to a Daily Double clue about Kendrick Lamar's 'Not Like Us.' He finished the game dominating over Thede and Friedberg by more than $25,000, securing the donation prize of $1 million for his charity of choice, DonorsChoose. The nonprofit organization helps teachers request classroom supplies and enables donors to help fund public school projects. A day after his big win, Bell paid a visit to Castlemont High School to share that he'll be pledging $183,000 of his winnings to support Oakland teachers across 63 schools and $53,000 to support teachers at 22 schools in Mobile, Ala., the city where his father lives.
San Francisco Chronicle
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Newest ‘Jeopardy!' champion donates portion of winnings to Oakland schools
W. Kamau Bell just became the Bay Area's latest 'Jeopardy!' champion, and he's donating a portion of his winnings to East Bay schools. The Oakland comic and documentarian won 'Celebrity Jeopardy!' beating out 'A Black Lady Sketch Show' comedian Robin Thede and entrepreneur Dave Friedberg on the season finale, which aired Wednesday, April 23. By winning, he secured $1 million for the charity of his choice: education nonprofit DonorsChoose, which helps teachers request classroom supplies and enables donors to help fund public school projects. 'It means the world to me to be able to do something for this community,' Bell told the Chronicle. 'I know that an educated student is better for all of us, and teachers that don't have to reach into their pockets to support their students is better for all of us. … The students may never actually understand what just happened, but I know the teachers appreciate it." Bell took no time to celebrate. The next morning, he visited Castlemont High School in Oakland, one of the institutions that will benefit from his 'Jeopardy!' pay out. Joseph Blasher, the school's principal, said Bell's donation is particularly helpful in the wake of Oakland Unified School District's financial struggles, which have made it difficult for teachers to plan projects. "It means people that are from our space continue to help and love our space and our people,' Blasher said. 'OUSD is going through some pretty significant budget issues, so this really helps with specific teacher projects that normally we would be able to fund but are not able to … This just means the world to us.' A total of $183,000 of Bell's winnings will support Oakland teachers across 63 schools, while $53,000 will benefit teachers across 22 schools in Mobile, Ala., where his dad lives. Though the comic got off to a slow start during the final 'Celebrity Jeopardy!' matchup, trailing behind both of his opponents by more than $2,000, Bell was able to turn things around during the second half of the game thanks to some pop culture training from his 10-year-old daughter, Juno. He correctly identified 'Drivers License' as the Olivia Rodrgio ballad named for 'this government-issued form of I.D.,' shortly after revealing to the audience that his daughter had quizzed him about the pop singer in the car that morning. 'I nailed it,' he said proudly on the quiz show. But it was the Daily Double that secured the lead for Bell, who correctly responded to the clue about Kendrick Lamar's 'Not Like Us,' setting him ahead at $11,200. Though he dropped to second place during the third round, for Final Jeopardy, Bell was the only contestant to correctly identifying Bob Newhart as the comedian who often credited his wife for inspiring 'what is still called one of the greatest finales in TV history,' a nod to the 1978 episode of 'The Bob Newhart Show.' He ended the game with a total of $27,199, dominating over Thede and Friedberg by more than $25,000. 'This is amazing,' Bell said when receiving his trophy from host Ken Jennings. Past winners of the celebrity game show, which launched in 2022 as an offshoot of 'Jeopardy!', include 'The Mindy Project' actor Ike Barinholtz and 'Abbott Elementary' star Lisa Ann Walter. During his run on Season 3 of the quiz show, Bell faced off against celebrities such as 'New Girl' star Max Greenfield, 'Grey's Anatomy' actor Camilla Luddington and Bay Area comic Margaret Cho. Earlier this month, Bell brought the show to the East Bay for his third stand-up comedy residency at Berkeley Repertory Theater.
