Wave Wire Services
LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Police Department has completed its investigation into the fatal New Year’s Eve shooting of a man in Northridge by an off-duty Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent, and prosecutors are reviewing the case to determine if any criminal charges are warranted.
The District Attorney’s Office confirmed in a statement to City News Service June 30 that it had been presented the case by the LAPD, “and it is currently under review.”
“Our experienced prosecutors will conduct a thorough analysis of all the facts and evidence to determine if we are able to prove a crime occurred beyond a reasonable doubt,” the D.A.’s Office said in a statement. “Given the complexity of that process, it is difficult to predict a timeline for completion, and cases like this can take several months or more to resolve.”
Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell informed the city Police Commission earlier June 30 that the department had submitted the case to District Attorney’s Office, following a roughly six-month investigation.
Keith Porter Jr., 43, was fatally shot shortly after 11:30 p.m. Dec. 31 near an apartment complex in the 17700 block of Roscoe Boulevard by the off-duty agent. The Department of Homeland Security issued a statement at the time saying the agent “bravely responded to an active shooter situation” and “exchanged gunfire” with Porter.
The agent’s name was never formally released, but he was identified in court papers submitted as part of a child-custody and restraining order case as Brian Palacios.
Police in January said that officers responded to the Roscoe Boulevard apartment building on New Year’s Eve in response to reports of a man firing shots in the air.
The Department of Homeland Security statement regarding the shooting said, “On December 31st, an off-duty ICE officer bravely responded to an active shooter situation at his apartment complex. In order to protect his life and that of others, he was forced to defensively use his weapon and exchanged gunfire with the shooter. Fortunately, our brave officer was not injured while protecting his community.”
Local activists and Porter’s family, however, have blasted the ICE agent’s actions, and denied that Porter was an “active shooter,” although they conceded he fired a weapon into the air to celebrate New Year’s Eve — a practice routinely condemned by law enforcement.
About a week after the shooting, Porter’s mother attended a Los Angeles City Council meeting and demanded justice for her son.
“He didn’t deserve this,” Franceola Armstrong told the council. “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.”
Porter’s relatives and their supporters took part in several demonstrations in the ensuing days to protest the fatal shootings of Porter and of Renee Good in Minneapolis by ICE agents.
