The mother and family of the man murdered during the hijacking of an LA Metro bus told NBC4’s I-Team they’re devastated by his death and want to make sure no one else using public transit becomes the victim of violence.

“I just want justice for my boy,” said Teresa Flores, the mother of 48-year-old Anthony Rivera, who died early Wednesday after he was shot during the bus takeover, pursuit, and standoff.

Flores said her son, who was riding the Metro bus to commute home, was a generous person who often put others’ needs ahead of his own.“Very friendly, very giving,” she said. 

“If he had his last dollar he would give it to you.”

She said police told the family Rivera had offered his property to the gunman who’d hijacked the bus.

“’Whatever you want, I have it here,’” Flores said, “and the man just turned around and shot him.”

The family said Rivera had served in the California National Guard and was working as a parking attendant at Dodger Stadium.

“He doesn’t make enough money to support a vehicle to get back and forth, he hasn’t for a while,” Rivera’s cousin Sarah Beck said.

“He was just doing everything he can to not have to rely on people giving him rides here and there.”

She said it’s unacceptable that people like Rivera, who depend on public transit, are so vulnerable to violence.

“We need change, and we understand that bus drivers need safety, we understand that, and thank goodness that they have that safety in place, but what about the passengers?,” she asked.

The LAPD said Rivera was fatally wounded during the ordeal and died at a hospital after SWAT officers stormed the bus and arrested the hijacker.

Police said 51-year-old Lamont A. Campbell was booked on suspicion of murder and was being held in jail without bail.

Campbell was expected to make an initial court appearance Monday.

Safety and sanitation improvements are headed to a popular park in South LA after community members say they have been asking city leaders to make needed changes.

The South LA Wetlands Park is north of Slauson Avenue between San Pedro Street and Avalon Boulevard, just east of the 110 Freeway.

More than 500 people signed a petition circulating online asking officials to install proper restrooms at the park, enhance security measures and improve the quality of the water of the wetlands for the animals.

Victor Vasquez, who organized the petition, said the park has been neglected for many years.

“When it opened, it was a new green space in the inner city, something that’s rare to come by,” said Vasquez.

Adriana Cabrera, the president of the Central Alameda Neighborhood Council, wrote a letter to Mayor Karen Bass’ office as well.

“A lot of us struggle with health problems because we don’t have access to green spaces,” said Cabrera. ” We don’t even have safe spaces where we can walk our dogs.”

Another big concern for community members is lighting. People were spotted at a local South LA park participating in recreational activities in complete darkness.

There is also a large, abandoned building on the park property. City Councilmember Curren Price’s office says the structure was once a bus yard with “historical significance.” A spokesperson says it is one of the oldest tilt-up buildings in the city and has asbestos inside.

The Office of Councilmember Price and the Department of Recreation and Parks are now being tasked to create a master plan for the wetlands, including the old structure.

As well-wishes continue to pour in for the eight injured firefighters from the Airport fire, one Orange County artist thought to show her support through a meaningful painting, which she donated to the Orange County Fire Authority.

Jeanine Brown of Aliso Viejo said she was inspired by the brave men and women who risk their lives every day on the fire lines, including her son who is a firefighter in Chula Vista.

He was deployed to the Line Fire in San Bernardino County when he called his mother with an idea.

“’Mom, they’re lining the fences into camp with thank you posters,” Brown recalled of the conversation. “Could you maybe do something and bring it to your local fire, the Airport Fire?’”

Brown did not hesitate and got to work, sitting on the floor of her home studio in Aliso Viejo, as the Airport Fire burned nearby.

“I paint from my heart,” said Brown.

Brown used pieces of a California map to create the words so that the hometowns of many of the firefighters on the Airport Fire were represented.

“These guys and girls carry that strength,” said Brown. “And you do have to have a brave heart to go out there.”

Brown, a self-taught artist who has been painting most of her life, had arranged to bring her painting to the incident command post on Sept. 20. No one could have imagined that the night before, eight firefighters would be seriously injured in a rollover crash in Irvine coming back from the airport fire.

Brown’s painting happened to depict eight firefighters on the front lines.

“I told my husband ‘Did you see on the news on the morning,’” Brown tearfully recalled. “We put the news on and saw the accident on the 241 involving 8 firefighters.”

For the next several days, family and friends of those injured firefighters, four who are still in the hospital in stable to critical condition, came by base camp to admire Brown’s painting. They signed messages of hope for their injured colleagues.

“More than the crisis you see – the firefighters getting injured, it’s the brotherhood and sisterhood of firefighters and emergency workers that surround them with love,” said Captain Larry Kurtz, with the Orange County Fire Authority. “Surround them with help… surround them with whatever they need, it’s something that is extraordinary.”

Brown said the outpouring of support and gratefulness has been overwhelming.

“I’ve heard from some of the moms and relatives of the firefighters and they are just overjoyed with this depiction, which was unintentional but came to light as this is what it was meant to do,” said Brown. “And I’m very touched.”

Brown is working with the OCFA to create prints of her painting to gift to each of the families of the injured firefighters.

“These men and women are heroes, they’re amazing,” she said. “So the painting, reaching out and touching the lives of the firefighters I think was just meant to be.”

The original painting, along with the messages of well wishes will soon be on display at the OCFA headquarters building in Irvine.