The family of Keith Porter Jr., a Los Angeles man fatally shot by an off-duty U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent on New Year's Eve, is requesting that the case be presented to a grand jury for consideration of criminal charges against the agent.
Following a meeting with Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman, Porter's family expressed their desire for a panel of county residents to determine whether the ICE agent, identified as Brian Palacios, should face charges. Porter, 43, was reportedly firing a rifle into the air to celebrate the New Year when he was confronted by Palacios, his neighbor. While the Department of Homeland Security initially described Porter as an "active shooter," no other individuals were harmed during the incident.
Relatives and their attorney, Jamal Tooson, assert that Porter posed no threat. Authorities recovered a rifle at the scene and reportedly found evidence supporting claims that Porter had fired at Palacios. Tooson stated that audio evidence captured by a neighbor's Ring camera will demonstrate that Palacios did not identify himself as law enforcement during the encounter.
Tooson believes a grand jury is the most appropriate avenue for achieving justice in the case. He indicated that District Attorney Hochman provided no timeline for a charging decision, citing the ongoing early stages of his review of the December 31, 2025 incident. Typically, cases involving serious injury or death by law enforcement are reviewed internally by the District Attorney's Justice Systems Integrity Division.
The District Attorney's office acknowledged the family's difficult situation and did not rule out the possibility of a grand jury presentation, urging additional witnesses to come forward. The office stated, "We will continue our meticulous review of the evidence, the facts, and the law to reach a final determination." Tooson noted the absence of eyewitnesses to the shooting and that Porter's death was not captured on video.
Porter's death is one of several incidents involving U.S. citizens killed by ICE agents in the past year, drawing scrutiny over the agency's use of deadly force. Previous encounters, including one involving a TikTok streamer and another resulting in the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, have also generated significant public outcry. Court records indicate Palacios has faced previous accusations, which his attorney has denied, stating the allegations were unfounded.
