Story behind hug between officer, boy during protest

PORTLAND, OR (KTRK) -- We are hearing from two key players in the so called 'hug shared around the world.'

This photograph of a Portland, Oregon police officer hugging a 12-year-old boy during a protest last week has gone viral. The police officer in the picture and the photographer who took it both agree that the little boy named, Devonte, is a special human being. Devonte was at that protest holding a "free hugs" sign.

It's an unusual image as people around the country protest a grand jury's decision to not indict a white police officer in the fatal shooting of an unarmed black teenager in Ferguson, Missouri.

Photographer Johnny Nguyen wanted to know from Devonte why he was at the protest.

"I was like, 'Hey, what's your name," asked Nguyen. "He said, 'My name is Devonte.' And I asked, 'Do you know what's going on? He said, 'a protest?'

"I asked, 'Do you know why?' He said, 'yeah.' And I said, 'Do you think it's good or bad.' And he didn't say anything. He just broke down and cried," said Nguyen.

The officer motioned for Devonte to come closer.

"He slowly came on over and he was a little trembly," said Sgt. Bret Barnum with the Portland Police Department. "First thing I said was, 'Why are you crying' and he said, 'he was sad.' He was sad about the protest. He was sad about what was going on in the world and all I could do was just sigh."

The officer then asked him for a hug and they embraced and Devonte cried.

Devonte's mom says her son has a heart of gold, compassion beyond anything she's ever experienced.