On Sunday, community members in Northridge gathered for a vigil to honor Keith Porter, a 43-year-old father of two, who was shot and killed by an off-duty Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent on New Year’s Eve.
The incident occurred at the Village Pointe apartment complex in Northridge. Authorities reported that the agent opened fire when Porter allegedly pointed a rifle at him.
Porter’s family and activists, including Black Lives Matter Los Angeles, are demanding justice and accountability. They held the vigil to remember Porter as a person, not just a headline, and to call for an independent investigation into his death. “This vigil is about remembering Keith as a human being,” a Black Lives Matter organizer stated, emphasizing the need for transparency and justice.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Porter was celebrating the new year by firing a rifle into the air when the off-duty agent, hearing gunfire, went outside and confronted him. Homeland Security officials described the situation as an “active shooter threat,” claiming the agent acted to protect himself and others. However, community members and activists argue that the agent’s actions were excessive.
The Los Angeles Police Department’s Robbery-Homicide Division is investigating the incident, with additional involvement from the FBI, the U.S. Department of Justice, and Homeland Security Investigations due to the federal nature of the case. The community is calling for the ICE agent to be identified and held accountable.
Melina Abdullah, co-founder of Black Lives Matter Los Angeles, expressed the community’s outrage, saying, “You don’t just get to murder people because you don’t like what they’re doing or how they’re celebrating.” The community continues to seek witnesses and push for justice for Porter and his family.
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