An LA City Council member remains in the running after reports that he stabbed a 12-year-old boy

Jordan Rivers, who is running to represent the port district in the Los Angeles City Council, said he will continue his campaign after it was reported 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 the lawsuit, Nicholas Parszik and his parents allege that Rivers stabbed Nicholas, then 8 years old, while the two boys were playing video games in the garage of Nicholas’ home in San Pedro on July 30, 2016.

Rivers “stabbed Nicholas repeatedly in the neck and shoulders,” causing “serious and life-threatening physical and emotional injuries,” the lawsuit said.

On Monday, Rivers said it was an “accident” that happened a decade ago.

“I do not believe that past circumstances or past mistakes define or determine who or what you are,” he said in a statement.

Rivers, who is black, said the initial media report about the case had “undertones of racism” and appeared to be aimed at damaging his reputation before the election.

The California Post first reported the case on Monday, which was also the last day for candidates to withdraw their nomination papers.

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 has happened here in our community, and my heart aches for the victim and his family. I hope they receive the care they need. My office will be there to represent and support everyone affected by this incident,” McOsker said in a statement.

Asked if Rivers should resign, McOsker campaign adviser Dave Jacobson said, “Mr.

Rivers, who has listed her job as a “community organizer” in campaign filings, has never reported any campaign contributions. As of Dec. 31, McOsker’s campaign had raised more than $190,000, according to the city’s Ethics Commission.

Juvenile criminal records are closed. Rivers said law enforcement was “involved” but did not work at the juvenile hall.

Paul Parszik, Nicholas’ father, said he was washing the dishes when he heard noises in the garage and Nicholas ran into the house with stab wounds to his neck and shoulders.

Paul Parszik remembers putting his fingers in 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 scars on his body.

In an interview with The Times, Mfula denied that he attacked Nicholas. He said he had been cooking and accidentally brought a cooking knife to the little boy’s house.

He forgot that he had tucked the knife under the video game controller, and the two began “play fighting,” he said.

Rivers said he didn’t realize 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 apple in his hand to cut his apple when the Plaintiff began to fight the Defendant. During the fight Plaintiff Nicholas was injured.”

Eunice Rivers settled the lawsuit, which was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, for $10,000 in 2018. This settlement did not include an admission of error.

In an October court filing, Paul Parszik said Eunice Rivers never paid restitution and owed $7,941.71 in interest.

Parszik said the case was intended to pressure the Rivers family to leave, which they did not do.

He plans to attend Rivers’ campaigns.

“I can’t wait to go home to his first party and say, ‘Hey, you stabbed my kid and you’re not sorry,'” she said.