Teen slapped by mom during Baltimore riot loves his mom


It’s pretty clear that Michael Singleton, the 16-year-old who was busted by his mom as he got ready to throw a brick at police, loves his mom.

Video of Toya Graham smacking her son Michael and dragging him away from the scene went viral this week. She later said she was acting on instinct when she recognized her son and wanted to protect him.

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In an interview Wednesday with CNN’s Anderson Cooper, Michael said he understands why his mom did what she did.

"She didn't want me to get in trouble (with the) law. She didn't want me to be like another Freddie Gray," he told Cooper.

>> Watch the full interview here.

Toya Graham has six children — Michael and five daughters — and has become known as #motheroftheyear  since the video of her pulling her son out of trouble went viral.

She is currently out of work and looking for a job.

And one more thing: Anderson Cooper reports that one of Graham’s daughters wants to be a police officer.