Jordan Rivers, who is running to represent a port-area district on the Los Angeles City Council, said he will continue his campaign after a report emerged that he stabbed a neighbor when he was 12 years old.
Rivers, 22, is the only challenger to incumbent Tim McOsker in the June 2 primary election.
In a lawsuit, Nicholas Parszik and his parents alleged that Rivers stabbed Nicholas, then 8 years old, while the two boys played video games in the garage of Nicholas' San Pedro home on July 30, 2016.
Rivers “stabbed Nicholas repeatedly in the neck and shoulders,” inflicting “serious and life-threatening physical and emotional injuries,” according to the lawsuit.
On Monday, Rivers said it was an “accident” that happened a decade ago.
“I do not believe that past situations or even past mistakes define or determine who a person is or what they are,” he said in a statement.
Rivers, who is black, said an initial media report on the lawsuit had “racial undertones” and seemed aimed at damaging his reputation before the election.
The California Post first reported on the lawsuit on Monday, which was also the last day for candidates to withdraw paperwork to run for office.
McOsker is seeking a second term representing District 15, which includes Harbor City, Harbor Gateway, San Pedro, Watts and Wilmington.
“I am saddened and concerned that this happened here in our community, and my heart breaks for the victim and her family. I hope they received the care they needed. My office will be here to provide advocacy and support to anyone who has been traumatized by this incident,” McOsker said in a statement.
When asked if Rivers should drop out, McOsker campaign consultant Dave Jacobson said, “Only Mr. Rivers could decide whether to run, and only he can decide if he should stay in the race.”
Rivers, who listed his occupation as “community organizer” in campaign documents, has not reported any campaign donations. By Dec. 31, McOsker's campaign had raised more than $190,000, according to the city's Ethics Commission.
Juvenile criminal records are sealed. Rivers said law enforcement “got involved” but he did not serve time in the juvenile facility.
Paul Parszik, Nicholas's father, said he was washing dishes when he heard screams in the garage and Nicholas ran into the house with stab wounds to his neck and shoulders.
Paul Parszik recalled sticking his fingers into the wounds to stop the bleeding.
Nicholas has made a full recovery and is about to turn 18, his father said, but he still has physical scars.
In an interview with The Times, Rivers denied attacking Nicholas. He said he had been cooking and accidentally brought a kitchen knife to the minor's house.
He forgot that he had put the knife under a video game controller and the two began “play fighting,” he said.
Rivers said he didn't notice anything was wrong until Nicholas was already injured.
Rivers' mother, Eunice Rivers, wrote in a 2016 filing in the lawsuit that her son “was eating an apple and had a small peeler in his hand to cut it when the plaintiff began to struggle with the defendant. While struggling, plaintiff Nicholas was injured.”
Eunice Rivers settled the case, which was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, for $10,000 in 2018. The settlement did not include an admission of guilt.
In an October court filing, Paul Parszik claimed Eunice Rivers never paid the settlement and owes $7,941.71 in interest.
Parszik said the lawsuit was primarily intended to pressure the Rivers family to move, which they did not do.
He plans to attend Rivers' campaign rallies.
“I can't wait to get home, go to his first rally and tell him, 'Hey, you stabbed my son and you have no remorse,'” he said.
