LA Council Challenger Stays in Race Amid Claims He Stabbed Neighbor Boy at Age 12

The Garage Attack That Shocked a Neighborhood (Image Credits: Nypost.com)

Los Angeles — A Green Party candidate for City Council District 15 drew sharp criticism after a lawsuit resurfaced alleging he stabbed an 8-year-old boy during a 2016 playdate.[1][2]

The Garage Attack That Shocked a Neighborhood

On July 30, 2016, two boys in San Pedro gathered in a garage for a video gaming session that turned horrific. Jordan Rivers, then 12, visited the home of 8-year-old Nicholas Parszik, who lived just five houses away. The boys had been neighbors and friends.

According to a civil lawsuit filed by Nicholas’s family, Rivers concealed a knife and launched an unprovoked assault, stabbing the younger boy multiple times in the neck and shoulders. Nicholas burst into the house screaming, his shirt soaked in blood. His father, Paul Parszik, pressed his fingers into the wounds to stem the bleeding until paramedics arrived.[1]

Doctors later warned the family that the blade had come within a quarter-inch of fatal depth. Nicholas survived but carries permanent scars on his neck, a constant reminder of the trauma.[2]

Lawsuit Details and Quiet Resolution

Nicholas Parszik and his parents sued Rivers in Los Angeles County Superior Court, claiming severe physical and emotional injuries from the attack. The family’s older son, Nathaniel, recalled hearing a scream from 50 yards away while playing basketball outside. He said Rivers shoved past him and fled home moments later.

The case settled out of court in 2018. Rivers’s mother, Eunice, agreed to pay $10,000 toward medical costs, though no liability was admitted. Paul Parszik later claimed in court filings that part of the amount remained unpaid, including interest.[2]

No criminal charges emerged from the juvenile incident, and records remain sealed under California law.

Rivers Defends His Candidacy

Now 22 and listing himself as a community organizer, Rivers challenges incumbent Tim McOsker in the June 2 primary for District 15, which spans San Pedro, Harbor Gateway, Watts, and Wilmington. His campaign has drawn no reported donations so far.

Rivers rejected the attack narrative, describing the event as an accident during roughhousing. He claimed he carried a small peeler for an apple or a forgotten cooking knife tucked under a controller. “I do not believe that past situations or indeed past mistakes define or determine who a person is or what they are,” he stated.[2]

Despite the March 9 report—the last day to withdraw—Rivers vowed to continue. He suggested early coverage carried a racial undertone aimed at derailing his bid.

Outrage and Calls for Higher Standards

Paul Parszik expressed disbelief upon learning of Rivers’s run. “This is just insane. I don’t understand how someone with a violent history like this can run for public office,” he said. He plans to attend Rivers’s rallies to confront him.[1]

• Former Councilmember Joe Buscaino: “A history of violent criminal conduct is disqualifying, not as punishment, but as a matter of fitness for leadership.”
• Los Angeles Police Protective League: Hopes the victim has recovered emotionally and insists no place exists in office for those lacking self-control.
• Incumbent Tim McOsker: Saddened by the event, offered support to the family without urging Rivers to quit.

California law allows any registered voter to run, fueling debate over barriers for candidates with troubled youths. The story echoes recent scrutiny of a Fresno hopeful disqualified for other reasons.[3]

This case raises tough questions about redemption, accountability, and who belongs in public service. What standards should apply to aspiring leaders with juvenile pasts? Share your thoughts in the comments.