The parents of Sal’Vyion “Sal” Torres, a 13-year-old Black student from Chatsworth, California, are demanding accountability after their son was assaulted outside Ernest Lawrence Middle School in an attack they allege was racially motivated. The December 6 incident, involving a white parent who reportedly hurled racial slurs and caused serious injuries to Sal, has drawn community outrage and accusations of systemic negligence by both the school district and law enforcement.
The encounter unfolded when Sal and two friends stepped off campus to assist a family member with groceries. As the boys returned to the school, John Morreale, the white parent of an eighth grader, allegedly confronted them with derogatory comments. Witnesses say he escalated the encounter by grabbing Sal, slamming him against a car, and pinning him to the pavement while shouting racial epithets. Sal’s cries of “I can’t breathe” reportedly ended the assault only after a staff member intervened. The attack left Sal with a concussion, a neck sprain, and lingering emotional trauma.
Despite the gravity of the incident, Sal’s parents, Adrina and Salvador Torres, say the response from both the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) has been insufficient. “My son was attacked by an adult, and he has not been arrested,” Adrina Torres said during a press conference. “We don’t understand why LAPD is not helping us at all.” The family, represented by attorney Bradley Gage, has called for Morreale to face charges of assault on a minor and a hate crime.
The school’s handling of the situation has also drawn criticism. While safety plans were issued for Sal and another student involved, advocates argue the measures are inadequate and do not hold Morreale accountable. Community activist Najee Ali condemned the disparity in how the case was handled, asserting, “If the roles were reversed and a Black parent assaulted a white child, they’d be in jail right now.”
The Torres family, supported by community leaders and the LA County Human Relations Commission, has reported the attack as a hate crime and is calling for federal oversight into what they see as a broader pattern of systemic racism within LAUSD. Ali and Gage are preparing a formal request for the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate racial discrimination in the district, demanding long-overdue protections for Black students and their families.
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