LA City Council candidate Jordan Rivers stabbed boy, 8: lawsuit

Fury has erupted over allegations a man running for a seat on the Los Angeles City Council carried out a brutal knife attack on an 8-year-old boy when he was a juvenile.

Jordan Rivers, 22, who is hoping to represent the Greens in District 15, allegedly stabbed the child during a play date in San Pedro, according to a civil court complaint obtained by The California Post.

Rivers was just 12 at the time of the attack.

The complaint, filed by the boy’s family, alleges he suffered life-threatening injuries from stab wounds to his neck and shoulder, leaving him with permanent scars.

The lawsuit was settled out of court in 2018, with Rivers’ mother agreeing to pay $10,000 towards the medical costs. There was no admission of liability.

The victim’s father, Paul Parszik, said ”you’ve got to be kidding me” when told Rivers has been approved to run for council.

“This is just insane. I don’t understand how someone with a violent history like this can run for public office.”

California law allows anyone who is registered to vote to run for public office.

Rivers’ decision to run comes hot on the heels of outcry at registered child sex offender Rene Campos’ attempt to run for Fresno City Council.

Campos’ brazen attempt at election came despite possessing child sex-abuse material in 2018.

It led California Assemblymember Esmeralda Soria to call for legislation to block sex offenders from running for local or state public office.

‘Covered in blood’

Rivers allegedly stabbed the boy multiple times while they were playing video games in the garage of the family home, according to the Parszik family’s civil complaint filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court.

The civil lawsuit describes the attack as “unprovoked, brutal and unwarranted.”

Rivers, who lived about five houses away, had been invited to the home and brought a concealed knife with him, the lawsuit claims.

Parszik said the scene following the attack was something he will never forget.

“My son came running into the house with half his shirt covered in blood,” he said. “There was blood everywhere. He was screaming and crying.”

The victim’s older brother, Nathaniel, said the attack unfolded in seconds. “It was all so fast,” he claimed. “I was outside playing basketball.

”The garage was about 50 yards. All I heard was a scream.” When he ran toward the garage, he alleges Rivers shoved past him and sprinted home.

Paul Parszik said he tried to save his young son’s life while waiting for paramedics.

“I stuck my fingers in the holes in his neck trying to stop the bleeding while we waited for help,” he said.

Doctors later told the family the injuries had come terrifyingly close to being fatal. “They said if the knife had gone about a quarter inch deeper, he wouldn’t have made it,” Parszik said.

The stabbing has left permanent scars on his neck. “Those will always stay with him and be a visual reminder of the attack,”

The Post has made numerous attempts to contact Rivers for comment, including visiting his home.

The Green Party of Los Angeles was also contacted for comment but did not respond.

Former LAPD cop and Los Angeles City councilmember Joe Buscaino said if the allegation were true, the violent conduct raised serious questions about a candidate’s fitness to lead.

“I had the privilege of serving the public and believe deeply in the principles of integrity, accountability, and the rule of law,” Buscaino told The Post.

”Public service is a sacred trust, and those who wish to hold it must be held to the highest standard of character.”

“A history of violent criminal conduct is disqualifying, not as punishment, but as a matter of fitness for leadership,” he said.

Buscaino said running for public office required a higher bar.

”It is a privilege earned through demonstrated character and commitment to the community.”

The Board of Directors of the Los Angeles Police Protective League told The Post there should be no place in public office for anyone with a history of violent conduct.

“We are happy that the youngster who was stabbed recovered from his physical injuries; we just hope he has recovered emotionally as well.”

“If you don’t have the responsibility or the self-control for something like that, you have no business being a council person,” Parsik said.

Rivers’ has yet to release details of his policy positions or priorities should he be elected.

His only visible campaign presence is an Instagram account called ‘Rivers Delivers for LA’, describing himself as a ‘lifelong’ resident of the district and saying he’s a member of the Greens.