Keith Porter: Family of man shot and killed by off-duty ICE agent in Northridge seeks answers at LA Police Commission meeting
The family of a man who was shot and killed by an off-duty ICE agent on New Year's Eve in Northridge is attending Tuesday morning's Los Angeles Police Commission meeting to voice concerns about the case and call for transparency.
Keith Porter, 43, was fatally shot the night of Dec. 31 in the 17700 block of Roscoe Boulevard.
According to a statement from the Department of Homeland Security, the ICE agent said he heard gunshots outside of his apartment.
"The suspected gunfire grew progressively louder, indicating to the officer that whoever was firing a gun was approaching his apartment," read a statement released by Tricia McLaughlin, the Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at the Department of Homeland Security. "The officer took his ICE authorized firearm and left his apartment to investigate. He moved to the ground level and went outside, where he believed the suspected gunfire was coming from."
DHS said the agent encountered Porter holding what appeared to be a long rifle and ordered him to put it down.
"The ICE officer identified himself as law enforcement," read the DHS statement. "In response, the individual pointed his weapon at the ICE officer. The officer ordered the subject to put the weapon down. When the subject refused to comply, the officer fired defensively with his service weapon at the subject to disarm him. The subject fired at least three rounds at the officer."
Porter's family, however, disputes that account, saying his gunfire was part of a New Year's celebration. They are asking for more information as they mourn his death.
"He claims he heard gunshots were getting closer to his apartment, but rather than staying at a position of safety, he left his apartment and went downstairs to what would be a position of danger," said attorney Jamal Tooson with Lessem, Newstat & Tooson during a news conference last week.
READ ALSO: Community demands accountability at vigil for father of 2 killed by off-duty ICE agent in Northridge
Tooson, however, says they've spoken with neighbors who say they did not hear an agent identify themselves.
Now, Porter's family and attorney are looking for answers. They say the ICE officer wasn't trained for that situation and should have called police and waited for them to arrive.
"But instead of staying in his apartment for a trained law enforcement officer from LAPD to respond, he made the premeditated and calculated decision to grab a firearm," Tooson said.
DHS said LAPD is investigating the incident and that ICE's Office of Professional Responsibility is also coordinating with the police department as part of the investigation.
Family members and local activists are demanding that the federal agent be identified, arrested and charged. The Police Commission meeting was scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday.
