Los Angeles police Monday were investigating the New Year’s Eve shooting death of a man by an off-duty ICE agent in Northridge that has sparked a civil rights activist’s call for an independent probe.
Officers responded at 11:37 p.m. Wednesday to reports of a man firing shots in the air at an apartment complex in the 17701 block of Roscoe Boulevard and Amestoy Avenue, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
The ICE officer, who has not yet been identified, responded to the shooting and exchanged gunfire with the shooter, according to a statement issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
“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,” the statement said. “Fortunately, our brave officer was not injured while protecting his community.”
“It was like a lot of shots. It was more than 10 shots, it was a lot of shots and we got scared, but I thought it was something like fireworks,” an apartment resident told Fox11.
The man shot by the ICE officer, whom Najee Ali of Project Islamic Hope named as Porter, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The off-duty officer called the LAPD immediately to report the shooting, according to the statement. The LAPD was investigating the shooting, but did not identify the victim or provide further details.
“We believe that Keith Porter Jr. was unjustly shot and killed by an overzealous off-duty ICE agent,” said Najee Ali of Project Islamic Hope. “In a public statement, the Department of Homeland Security claimed that Porter Jr. was an `active shooter.’ That claim is false and misleading.”
Ali cited witnesses who said Porter was firing a rifle into the air to celebrate the new year, not targeting any individual. “Multiple eyewitnesses are prepared to testify to these facts,” he said. “Despite this, Homeland Security has used the `active shooter’ narrative to justify the killing.”
Ali called for a full, independent investigation by the California Attorney General as well as the immediate release of all body-camera footage, ballistic evidence and witness statements. Friends and family of Porter held a vigil for him Sunday night.