The brawl at the Montgomery Riverfront has quickly become a moment etched in Black history. As the video made its way around social media, viewers picked their favorite moment and member of the retaliation.

One of the participants that quickly became a standout was the fearless individual that swam across the river, jumped onto the dock and promptly began throwing punches at the protection of the security guard.

While Black Twitter fondly named him “JaMichael Phelps,” the aqua man was later revealed as a 16-year-old named “Aaren.”

Viewers searched for more on the identity of the unknown swimmer. Aaren’s family took understandable precautions to protect him from possible public scrutiny.

The family obtained a publicist by the name of Makina LaShea. She released a statement expressing that the family appreciated how people had “come together to celebrate the remarkable act of bravery and compassion” demonstrated by the young hero.

“In the face of adversity, Aaren selflessly came to the rescue of a fellow colleague, showcasing courage beyond his years,” the statement read. “We are immensely proud of his actions and the values he exemplifies, standing as an inspiration to us all.”

“The overwhelming love and support pouring in from all corners of the state and surrounding areas have deeply touched Aaren,” it continued. “Your kindness and encouragement have shown him the power of unity and the warmth of a caring community.”

The representative later included a comment from the teen shedding light on why he did what he did.

“I just want to say thank you to everyone who has been sending me money to help me get new boots,” he said. “I promise I don’t need anymore than I already have. Thank you, everyone, for your support. The only thing I did was what I was taught to do.”

Viewers acknowledged the young man’s courage with various social memes.

He also received a list of superhero aliases, with “Shaquille O’Gills” taking the top spot.

 

 

 

LaShae later released a statement from Aaren’s parents clarifying that they were not attempting to exploit or capitalize on their son’s newfound celebrity.

As Blavity previously reported, the brawl is under investigation as authorities review multiple videos from the public and surveillance footage from the park.

As of Sunday, four active warrants were issued for members involved in the fight and charges are pending.