According to the Center for Disease Control, on average, fifteen teens are killed every day, usually with firearms. In total, that means that 5475 teens die every year. A staggering amount of those deaths belong to gang violence, the rivalry and aggression between different gangs or internal conflicts within a particular gang. Even in the small town of Danville, the consequences of gang violence have been felt.

Chiara Levin, a 2002 graduate of DHS, was killed March 24, 2007, a victim of gang violence. Levin was caught in the crossfire of two rival Bostonian gangs’ members. Levin had attended a family gathering earlier that evening, and had joined friends at an after hour party nearby.

While the loss of a child might cripple most parents, the Levin family has devoted a tremendous amount of time, energy, and money to preserving their daughter’s memory. One of those ways hangs in the DHS front office.

Above and to the left of the secretary’s desk hangs a colorful painting by William Matthew Andrus, bought and donated by the Levins to honor the outstanding career of their daughter. It is one of the more prominent items in the front office, grabbing the immediate attention of visitors. It is an abstract work, with colorful shapes and motions working together to produce a cheerful atmosphere, ironic that it was donated in the memory of a tragedy. The painting, while a sober reminder as to what has been lost, adds something special to the front office, and gives tribute to the life of one of DHS’s most ambitious students.

It has been 9 months since her death, and still DHS mourns the pointless death of one of its favored students.

“Tragic, real tragic loss, but to have it hit so close to home…” said Jane Scisco, the DHS secretary.

“A shame somebody that intelligent and that bright had to end their life in such a tragic manner.” said Win Smith, the principal of DHS.

The Levins have also planted a tree in Chiara’s memory on the front lawn of DHS.