‘I still don’t understand’: Ethan Rivera remembered by loved ones a year after shooting

CHARLOTTE — Saturday marks one year since Ethan Rivera, a Charlotte Area Transit System bus driver, was shot while on the job in Uptown.

Rivera, a 41-year-old, father of two, died the next day from his injuries.

His family, friends and more than 100 of his CATS co-workers gathered this afternoon -- at the intersection of Graham and Trade Street near where Rivera was killed -- to remember him.

Sylvia Rivera -- Ethan’s mother -- visited from her home in New York for the memorial.

“Sometimes I’m good, and I have moments when I lose it, because I still don’t understand why,” Sylvia said.

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She shared her continued concerns for the safety of the many CATS drivers in attendance.

“It’s not fair and I don’t want his death to be in vain,” Sylvia said. “I want you guys to fight. I want you guys to be safe. I want you guys to go home. Ethan never made it home and that was his last ride.”

Channel 9′s Glenn Counts spoke with others in attendance about the memories of Ethan that have kept them going through the difficult year.

“Quick witted, always joking, always smiling, always helping,” Lisa McCauley, a CATS Driver recalled. “When I heard about it my heart immediately felt shattered.”

(WATCH BELOW: Suspect denied bond in shooting death of CATS bus driver in Uptown Charlotte)