OAKLAND – The family of a 40-year-old Oakland man who was hit and killed last week by a driver fleeing from officers broke their silence Monday, recalling their loved one’s final act of heroism and requesting privacy as they navigate a future without him.
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In a statement, Marvin Boomer’s family said he pushed his girlfriend out of the path of the oncoming Infiniti G35.
“Although she was still struck and sustained injuries and deep psychological trauma, it is clear that Marvin’s actions spared her from also being killed,” the statement read.
The driver of the car, 18-year-old Eric Scott Hernandez-Garcia, has been charged with vehicular manslaughter and several other felonies, according to the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office.
The family also asked for privacy “as they mourn and begin to consider the legal remedies available to them.”
Boomer’s sister, Tynesha Boomer, remembered her brother as “loving, kind and full of life.”
“He didn’t deserve to die on an evening stroll,” Tynesha Boomer said in the statement. “We are heartbroken and are asking the public to please let us mourn in peace, without speculation, disruption or unauthorized representation. We appreciate the community’s love and concern, but right now, we need space to grieve.”
Boomer’s girlfriend, who was not named in the statement, said he “gave his life to save mine.”
“I’m still here because of him,” she said. “But I lost the love of my life. I am living with unimaginable pain — physical and emotional — and I am begging the public and the media to please respect our privacy. Let Marvin’s legacy be honored with truth, dignity and care.”
Boomer was a beloved college and career coach at Castlemont High School in Oakland. At a graduation ceremony Friday, students could not believe the educator who steered them toward a brighter future would not be there to see them cross the stage.
“It’s diabolically crazy that Mr. Boomer can’t see us shine,” 17-year-old Jermell Fonville told this news organization.
An effort to raise funds to continue and honor Boomer’s legacy is underway. More than $21,500 had been raised as of late Monday night.
The fatal collision, meanwhile, has reignited a debate over whether law enforcement officers should be allowed to pursue suspects through the streets of Oakland.
The Oakland Police Department does not allow its officers to take part in car chases, but the policy does not apply to the California Highway Patrol, which was involved in a pursuit with Hernandez-Garcia prior to the crash that left Boomer dead.
The CHP said officers initially tried to stop Hernandez-Garcia near 102nd Avenue and International Boulevard around 7:30 p.m. on May 28. He drove off with the officers in pursuit, but they called off the chase after just 37 seconds. A CHP airplane continued to follow him as he drove on a freeway and through city streets.
After briefly stopping at Fifth Avenue and East 18th Street, Hernandez-Garcia drove off and led officers in another 30-second pursuit that ended when the car hit a stopped minivan at Park Boulevard and East 21st Street. The two occupants of the minivan suffered minor injuries and were taken to an area hospital, the CHP said.
Hernandez-Garcia continued driving in what the CHP said was a “reckless and dangerous manner.” About 20 seconds later, the car sailed through the intersection of 12th Avenue and East 21st Street, where it hit a fire hydrant, Boomer and his girlfriend.
Check back for updates.