A Grieving Aunt

Derrick Gaines was a 15-year-old boy that was shot by a South San Francisco police officer on the night of June 6, 2012 for suspicious behavior. Since this was a case that was so close to home the aunt of Derrick stepped forward and volunteered her time to speak to the students that were going through the program Alternative to Expulsion. She shared her experience as Derrick's second mother and how Derek's mom was never present in his life due to drug use and his father as well was never really involved in his life. As a child growing up he didn't have that typical home of mother and father which is something that is very common in this community. Derrick Enjoyed writing songs and wrapping two days before he died he told his aunt that he wouldn't be able to write song unless he lived through them. His songs were about games and dying. He won't be able to live a different life because he made the mistake of running from the law enforcement while having a handgun on him. The purpose of bringing the aunt to talk speak to them is To show them how much pain they would inflict on their family members on their friends and that they can be mistaken for someone if they continue to hang out with the wrong crowd or try to be someone that they are not. That by being around people that look suspicious having things you're not supposed to have can lead to their death. Although I never met this boy I feel for the family and it just makes me want to come back to this community give back to this community so that deaths like Derek's, Pepe's, Hector's don't continue to happen.