Jordan Rivers, who’s operating to symbolize a harbor-area district on the Los Angeles Metropolis Council, mentioned he’ll proceed his marketing campaign after a report surfaced that he stabbed a neighbor when he was 12.
Rivers, 22, is the only challenger to incumbent Tim McOsker within the June 2 major election.
In a lawsuit, Nicholas Parszik and his dad and mom alleged that Rivers stabbed Nicholas, then 8, whereas the 2 boys had been enjoying video video games within the storage of Nicholas’ San Pedro residence on July 30, 2016.
Rivers “stabbed Nicholas repeatedly across the neck and shoulder areas,” inflicting “extreme and life threatening bodily and emotional accidents,” the lawsuit mentioned.
On Monday, Rivers mentioned it was an “accident” that occurred a decade in the past.
“I don’t imagine that previous conditions or certainly previous errors outline or decide who an individual is or what they’re,” he mentioned in a press release.
Rivers, who’s Black, mentioned that an preliminary media report concerning the lawsuit had “a racial undertone” and appeared meant to break his popularity forward of the election.
The California Put up first reported the lawsuit on Monday, which was additionally the final day for candidates to withdraw paperwork to run for workplace.
McOsker is in search of a second time period representing District 15, which incorporates Harbor Metropolis, Harbor Gateway, San Pedro, Watts and Wilmington.
“I’m saddened and troubled that this occurred right here in our group, and my coronary heart breaks for the sufferer and his household. I hope they’ve gotten the care wanted. My workplace will probably be right here to supply advocacy and help for anyone who has been traumatized by this incident,” McOsker mentioned in a press release.
Requested whether or not Rivers ought to withdraw, McOsker marketing campaign guide Dave Jacobson mentioned, “Solely Mr. Rivers may determine whether or not to run, and solely he can determine whether or not he ought to keep within the race.”
Rivers, who listed his occupation as “group organizer” on marketing campaign filings, has not reported any marketing campaign donations. By Dec. 31, McOsker’s marketing campaign had raised over $190,000, in response to the town’s Ethics Fee.
Juvenile legal information are sealed. Rivers mentioned that regulation enforcement “bought concerned” however that he didn’t serve time in juvenile corridor.
Paul Parszik, Nicholas’ father, mentioned he was doing dishes when he heard screaming from the storage and Nicholas bumped into the home with stab wounds on his neck and shoulders.
Paul Parszik recalled shoving his fingers into the injuries to stanch the bleeding.
Nicholas totally recovered and is about to show 18, his father mentioned, however nonetheless has bodily scars.
In an interview with The Occasions, Rivers denied attacking Nicholas. He mentioned he had been cooking and unintentionally introduced a cooking knife to the youthful boy’s residence.
He forgot that he had put the knife beneath a online game controller, and the 2 started “play combating,” he mentioned.
Rivers mentioned he didn’t discover something was mistaken till Nicholas was already injured.
Rivers’ mom, Eunice Rivers, wrote in a 2016 submitting within the lawsuit that her son “was consuming an apple and had a small peeler in his hand to chop his apple when the Plaintiff began wrestling with the Defendant. Whereas wrestling Plaintiff Nicholas was injured.”
Eunice Rivers settled the case, which was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Courtroom, for $10,000 in 2018. The settlement didn’t embrace an admission of fault.
In an October courtroom submitting, Paul Parszik claimed that Eunice Rivers by no means paid the settlement and owes $7,941.71 in curiosity.
Parszik mentioned the lawsuit was primarily supposed to stress the Rivers household to maneuver away, which they didn’t do.
He plans to attend Rivers’ marketing campaign rallies.
“I can’t wait to go residence and go to his first rally and say, ‘Hey, you stabbed my child and you haven’t any regret,’” he mentioned.
