Vigil held for Keith Porter killed by off-duty ICE agent in Northridge

Candlelight Vigil Held for Keith Porter Jr. in Northridge

Friends, relatives, and civil rights advocates gathered at a candlelight vigil on Saturday night to remember Keith Porter Jr., who was killed by an off-duty Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Northridge on New Year’s Eve. They called for transparency and accountability in the investigation.

Porter’s mother was overcome with grief during the vigil in the community where he was raised. This event marked the second memorial in a week for the 43-year-old father of two, who was shot and killed by the off-duty ICE agent.

“You took our loved one from us. You murdered our loved one, and it’s not fair. It’s not right,” said Porter’s sister, Chanita Fata.

Details of the Incident

According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the off-duty ICE agent heard gunfire near his apartment and went to investigate. DHS states that the agent encountered Porter holding a long rifle.

Advocates claim that before Porter was shot, he fired gunshots as part of a New Year’s Eve celebration. They say he was firing the gun into the air to observe the holiday, a practice often condemned by law enforcement.

“Yes, it was illegal, but at the end of the day, it’s an American tradition,” said Najee Ali, the director of Project Islamic Hope.

Judy Vaughan, who attended the vigil, supported this view, stating that celebratory gunfire has occurred for decades.

“I’m 80 years old. It’s happened as long as I can remember. That’s one of the things that happens – people shoot guns as part of fireworks in celebration of the New Year,” Vaughan said.

Account of the Shooting

DHS reports that the agent ordered Porter to put down the weapon. When Porter did not comply, the off-duty officer fired his service weapon. The agency claims Porter fired three rounds at the agent before he died.

“This is a human rights issue,” Vaughan said.

Advocates argue that the off-duty ICE agent was not trained for the situation and should have called the police and waited for them to arrive.

Community Response

The vigil attracted people who did not know Porter personally, including Vaughan, who traveled about 20 miles from Mid-City to attend the memorial instead of joining an anti-ICE protest closer to her home.

“We all need to recognize our shared humanity and come together, and I just want to be here to be a part of this group to say his life is valuable, his life matters, and we need to speak out in as many ways as possible,” Vaughan said.

During a Los Angeles City Council meeting on Friday, Councilwoman Eunisses Hernandez introduced Porter’s mother, Franceola Armstrong. She described her son as a man with a wonderful soul and a big heart.

“He didn’t deserve this,” Armstrong said. “He was on his way back. He didn’t even get to pop the Champagne. He didn’t get to say goodbye. I just want to touch my baby one last time, kiss his face, and hold him. I don’t have him. His life was snatched from us. Lord, please, I just wish you could get justice for my child.”

As the Los Angeles Police Department investigates the events leading to Porter’s death, those at the vigil are calling for the off-duty ICE agent to be identified, arrested, and charged.

“Hurt, loss. This was my brother. He was my life. He was my kids’ life. He was the life of our family,” Fata said. “He brought life to wherever he was. He was love… He brought life to wherever he went.”

Organizers plan to attend the Los Angeles Police Commission meeting on Tuesday to petition the police chief for a transparent investigation into Porter’s death. They also acknowledged the shooting death of Renee Good by an ICE agent in Minnesota earlier this week.