Attorneys for a Los Angeles man shot and killed by an off-duty federal agent on New Yr’s Eve are asking the California Legal professional Normal to take over the case, alleging latest feedback by LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell present a bias towards the Trump administration.
In a Tuesday afternoon information convention, attorneys Ben Crump and Jamal Tooson known as on Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta to research the deadly capturing of Keith Porter at his San Fernando Valley house constructing.
The request, they mentioned, was based mostly largely on their insecurity within the LAPD and the U.S. Justice Division.
A spokesperson for the Division of Homeland Safety initially mentioned an off-duty Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent who lived at identical house complicated was responding to a suspected “energetic shooter” when he opened fireplace. Porter’s relations have mentioned they consider he had been firing a gun into the air to ring within the new 12 months.
Tooson mentioned witnesses have come ahead saying that Porter, 43, seemed to be strolling again to his house when he was shot, and was not a risk to anybody. Tooson additionally identified that witnesses didn’t hear the federal officer figuring out himself earlier than firing three photographs.
“So, forgive us, if now we have skepticism of any claims of self protection,”in keeping with Tooson, who’s representing Porter’s mom, Franceola Armstrong.
Crump — who beforehand represented the households of Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown, amongst different high-profile civil rights instances — mentioned he’s supporting Porter’s household however not appearing as their authorized counsel.
“The household has not been assured that LAPD, with their shut relationships with the ICE officers, that there’s going to be a good and clear investigation,.” Crump mentioned. “As a result of them making an attempt to whitewash the investigation into the demise of Keith Porter is a nonstarter. We’re not going to permit that to occur.”
A name to the LAPD in regards to the remarks went unreturned Tuesday afternoon.
The deadly incident occurred on the Village Pointe Flats on Roscoe Boulevard round 10:30 p.m. on Dec. 31, 2025. Native police have kept away from utilizing the Division of Homeland Safety’s characterization of Porter as an “energetic shooter.” No one else was reported injured on the scene.
Tooson and Porter’s relations have repeatedly mentioned that even when he was capturing a gun into the air — an exercise that may carry felony expenses and is discouraged as harmful by metropolis leaders — he was not threatening anybody and contended the agent who opened fireplace ought to have waited for LAPD to reply.
Stacie Halpern, an lawyer for the ICE agent, has mentioned there’s proof that Porter shot first. A legislation enforcement supply, talking on the situation of anonymity to debate an ongoing investigation, echoed these claims to The Instances final month.
Halpern didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark left after Tuesday’s press convention.
In a press release, the Los Angeles County District Legal professional’s workplace mentioned it was assured that the LAPD was “conducting an intensive and impartial investigation.”
“As soon as the case is offered to our workplace, we are going to rigorously study the proof, assessment the details, and apply the legislation to find out whether or not felony expenses are applicable,” the assertion learn. “This is similar rigorous, neutral course of we use in each use-of-force case submitted to the District Legal professional’s Workplace.”
Porter’s demise has grow to be a rallying level regionally for activists, who usually invoke his identify at Police Fee conferences and protests. Hours earlier than the press convention, quite a few audio system confirmed as much as the Fee’s assembly to demand that the federal agent accountable be arrested.
Final month, The Instances recognized the officer as Brian Palacios. Palacios lived in an house a brief distance away from the place Porter was killed, and has beforehand been accused throughout a custody dispute of kid abuse and making racist remarks about Black and Latino males, in keeping with courtroom information reviewed by The Instances. Data offered by Halpern present the kid abuse allegations have been deemed unfounded by police and the L.A. County Division of Baby & Household Servies. Halpern additionally denied her consumer ever used racist language.
In a press release issued in late January, a supervisor for the house complicated mentioned “the ICE agent is not a tenant and has completely vacated the property.”
In his name for an out of doors investigation, Tooson argued McDonnell is just too cozy with ICE and different federal companies to supervise an neutral investigation of Palacios’ conduct.
Regardless of months of federal immigration raids inflicting chaos in and round Los Angeles, the chief has largely prevented criticizing the Trump administration, at occasions boasting in regards to the power of LAPD’s ties to federal legislation enforcement. He mentioned final week he wouldn’t implement a brand new California legislation — which is already being challenged in courtroom — that bars ICE brokers from carrying masks whereas on-duty.
McDonell has stood by LAPD’s coverage of not getting concerned in civil immigration enforcement. When he served as L.A. County sheriff throughout President Trump’s first time period, McDonnell took criticism for permitting ICE to entry the jails when in search of inmates for deportation. His place on immigration was considered an element within the 2018 sheriff’s race, which noticed McDonnell lose in an upset to Alex Villanueva.
Addressing reporters on Tuesday, Armstrong, Porter’s mom, mentioned she remained heartbroken by the considered waking up on a regular basis with out her son, who was a Compton native and father of two.
“I can’t carry my son again, however I need justice for him. I need justice for my baby,” she mentioned.
Instances Workers Author Richard Winton contributed to this report.
