A thick magenta curtain closes in the room where Daren Dieter spends his time at his home on Lawnton Avenue.
“I watch a lot more television than I used to watch,” says Dieter.
Dieter, now 26, was shot four times on Sept. 22, 2007, while in his car outside of Shrimpy’s Bar and Restaurant on Cheltenham Avenue near 19th Street. A bullet shattered his spine and he is now paralyzed from the neck down.
“Jeopardy” is on the television. Dieter watches while he lies back in his wheelchair under a blanket. A black winter vest hugs his chest and a knit hat covers his ears, but he still claims that it is cold in the house.
“Doctor’s visits, that’s mostly my life at this point. Changing medication, going on certain medication, going off certain medication – that’s largely my life,” says Dieter.
Dieter follows a daily routine, which consists of rehabilitation, set eating times and watching television. A time schedule, created with a rainbow of Magic Markers, is posted on the wall.
“I have not really seen any changes. A lot of it [rehabilitation] is like a gym membership almost. You go, you do see therapists at times, but most of the time you go, get hooked up to a machine. I haven’t seen a lot of progress,” says Dieter.
Lance Haver, Dieter’s uncle and adoptive father, comes into the room to ask Dieter if he asked what he’s being interviewed for.
“Did you ask? Or do you not care? Because if you don’t care, then you don’t care,” says Haver.
“I kind of don’t care,” responds Dieter.
Haver believes that his nephew and son will get better, however Dieter isn’t hopeful.
“Women have the option to get an abortion and have power over their bodies and another life form. I don’t understand how I am in tremendous pain, but I don’t have the option to end my life,” says Dieter. “It’s a very uncommon belief, but it is something that I think is a very important issue.”
Dwayne Carson, a longtime friend of Dieter’s, sits behind him on a bed as they watch “Jeopardy.” Carson interrupts Dieter’s thought to make sure he is breathing OK.
“How’s your breathing? Do you want to go on the ventilator?” says Carson as he leans in towards his friend.
“No, no. I’m OK,” says Dieter.
Back in Sept. 2007, the doctors treating Dieter said there was a possibility that he would never be able to breathe without the assistance of a ventilator. Now, he can breathe on his own, but needs the ventilator while sleeping.
Even as Dieter’s breathing has shown improvement over the past three years, he, in a sense, has given up.
“I should have the right over my own body. Criminals have their rights taken away, but they still have the option of suicide and I think I should have the option,” says Dieter. “I don’t see how a criminal could have more rights than I have,” says Dieter.
Tyree Bohannon pleaded guilty to shooting Dieter in a plea agreement that left him with 15 to 30 years in prison. In a matter of years Bohannon will walk free while his victim may never walk again.
“His sentence wasn’t death, his sentence is way too short. He should really spend next to life in jail. This is going to affect me for the rest of my life. I mean it’s possible that I will get better, but most likely this will affect me for the rest of my life,” says Dieter.
Bohannon used an unlicensed firearm to shoot Dieter in 2007. In comparison to other states, Pennsylvania does not have strict laws concerning gun control. According to the Pennsylvania Firearm Owners Association, it is illegal in this state for any government or police agency to keep a registry of firearms. It is only required to have a license in order to conceal a firearm or to carry one in a motor vehicle.
Addressing the question of whether or not a license to carry firearms is honored in Philadelphia, PFOA answers, “Contrary to many rumors that have been floating around for years, a Pennsylvania license to carry firearms issued anywhere in the state is good anywhere in the state. Pennsylvania’s Uniform Firearms Act provides preemption statue, which prevents anyone other than the state legislature from regulating the carry of firearms among other things. At one point Philadelphia had attempted to ignore this, but it has long be resolved.”
“The gun laws are crazy,” says Dieter. “You’ll find that most of America supports that — the ‘right’ with very few restrictions.”
Dieter’s voice raises and his eyes open a little wider.
“Anybody can get a gun,” chimes in Carson. “It’s very simple.”
Approximately a year after Dieter’s incident, Carson was a victim of gun violence in Mt. Airy. In 2007, Philadelphia had the highest homicide rate. Comparing 2007 to this year, homicides are down approximately 22 percent, according to the Philadelphia Police website.
Although homicide and violent crime rates have declined, the problem isn’t solved. Common Pleas Judge Jane Cutler Greenspan ruled that it would be illegal for the city to set a limit of one gun a month and to ban assault weapons. The numbers may be down, but is Northwest Philadelphia any safer?
“It’s not any safer, it is probably even worse. After you’ve had an experience like this, there’s a period of invisibility but then you never feel safe again. There is nothing in your existence that you ever feel safe about ever again,” says Carson while Dieter nods in agreement.
“It’s not something you can understand unless you’ve been shot at. I tried to express it to a lot of people and it’s like I am speaking Chinese,” says Dieter.
He takes a deep breath and explains that being a victim is difficult – not only for him but for his family.
“My brother is angry with me. He thinks that I had an error in judgment and it is my fault that this happens,” says Dieter.
Close friends like Carson and Dieter’s father fight a battle every day for him, however Dieter doesn’t want to keep combating.
“I think I should have the opportunity to end my life,” says Dieter. “Suicide is a right.”
15-30 yrs imprisonment for the suspect but lifetime burden for the victim. So unfair.. even though the suspect i in prison he can still walk, breath normally. But not for Dieter.
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