Keith Porter Jr. Fatally Shot By ICE Agent On New Year’s Eve
- Family refutes 'active shooter' claim, says man fired into air recklessly, not violently
- ICE agent acted irrationally, leading to death instead of arrest, according to family's attorney
- This incident is part of a pattern of questionable ICE killings of civilians, including a white mother in Minnesota
New Year's Eve should be a festive time where people gather with their family and friends to appreciate what they have done; and feeling hopeful about what lies ahead. Unfortunately, for a Northridge, California family, the end of the year will forever be marked with pain and sadness.
Keith Porter Jr. was gunned down by an off-duty ICE agent when he allegedly responded to an “active shooter” by the Department of Homeland Security. Last week, Tricia McLaughlin released a statement condemning Porter and praising the trigger-happy officer.
via The LA Times:
“On December 31st, an off-duty ICE officer bravely responded to an active shooter situation at his apartment complex,” the statement read. “To protect his life and that of others, he was forced to use his weapon defensively and exchanged gunfire with the shooter.”
Porter's family vehemently refutes this claim, while also being completely transparent about what actually happened before he was killed.
On New Year's Eve, Porter fired an AR-15-style rifle into the air, as many may do on vacation. This is a reckless behavior that endangers the public like the bullets raining down from the sky. However, the family's attorney, Jamal Tooson, spoke at a press conference last week to clarify the very real distinction between an “active shooter” and firing irresponsibly into the air.
“What should have been an arrest and possible citation has turned into a death sentence and possible cold-blooded murder of an ICE agent who was not equipped to handle the situation,” Tooson said.
Some will balk at the distinction, but this is not just a matter of semantics; a law enforcement officer acted irrationally, and a man lost his life instead of facing justice. That matters. His life is important.
Adrian Metoyer, Porter's best friend, is appalled by the insinuation that the father of two daughters is violent or abusive, according to a separate LA Times article
“I can't even fathom the idea of him being seen in a negative light. Calling the officer a hero, before an investigation was done … this is ridiculous,” Metoyer said.
Earlier this week, an ICE agent in Minneapolis shot and killed a white mother of three, Renee Nicole Good, when she tried to flee an officer yanking on her door handle. While it's understandable that people are shocked and outraged by her death, she is not the only person to have lost her life at the hands of these militarized rogue agents who have preyed on American citizens in the name of immigration control.
BOSSIP will keep a close eye on this matter. Rest in Peace, Keith Porter Jr.
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