His Name Was Daniel

He Could Have Been My Son.

He died in a gunfight with cops following a high-speed car chase. I will not blame myself any longer.

Nor will I change any names in this story. He received what he wanted — a modicum of national attention — and once he was killed his identity was public for about a week.

He was 29 years old. I am going to share this experience because I do not want the above photos to be the final public impression of a complex and talented man who deserved more. This has been gnawing at me since hearing of his death this past April from “multiple gunshot wounds.”

To his kids, the news reports — if you ever see them on YouTube — did not tell the entire story.

Nor could they have.

This heartfelt account is a Medium.com exclusive.

Introduction

Daniel Joseph Carver was a student of mine when I taught at-risk youth at Hathaway Children and Family Services, a non-public Southern California school, over 15 years ago. My 9th-grade classroom consisted of substance abusers, gang members, and others with severe emotional issues.

Race factored into Daniel’s class acceptance. He was my only Caucasian student. He entered his first school day mid-year, sleeves rolled up, a swastika carved into his skin. I will…