Recent murder victims honored at Los Angeles memorial event

Loved ones gathered in Los Angeles on Saturday to celebrate National Homicide Victims Remembrance Day.

The Los Angeles Chapter of Parents of Murdered Children will host an event at Baldwin Park at 12 p.m. where survivors will share stories of their deceased children, enjoy their favorite meals and talk about the love they left behind. It provided an opportunity for reflection.

One of Los Angeles' latest homicide victims is Anthony Rivera, 48, a driver who lost his life in an MTA busjacking on September 25th.

Rivera was riding a regular Metro bus early in the morning, almost on his way home from work, when a man named 51-year-old Lamont Campbell got into an argument with Rivera and allegedly hijacked the bus in South Los Angeles.

Police say the man pointed a gun at Rivera and another passenger and led police on a low-speed chase that ended in downtown Los Angeles.

The driver was able to remain calm and press the panic button to alert police to what was happening.

Los Angeles Police Department officers accessed the bus and found Rivera suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.

The driver and another passenger survived.

Rivera's friends and family told KTLA's Rachel Menitoff that they remember him as someone who always looked out for others.

“He didn't have a bad bone in his body,” said his mother, Teresa Flores. “Even if you were a stranger, he would take you out to eat. So did my son.”

Mr. Campbell is in custody and the case against him is expected to be filed with the District Attorney's Office on Monday.

“He was just getting home from a very long shift working as a parking attendant at Dodger Stadium,” said his cousin Sarah Beck. “All he wanted was to get home safely, but he couldn't go home. Now we don't have him, his love, his hugs. .”