Harlem C. Porter, 20, was charged on May 29 with Aggravated Unlawful Possession of a Weapon and Possession of a Fraudulent Identification Card following a shooting at Glen Oak Park on Memorial Day. The State’s request for detention was granted during Porter’s hearing, meaning he will remain in custody until trial.
On May 25 around 6 p.m., Peoria police responded to reports of shots fired at Glen Oak Park. Officers pursued an SUV that had crashed at the scene, and its occupants fled. The SUV was registered to Porter, and officers found a handgun inside it.
Witnesses reported seeing Porter hiding in a vehicle at a nearby gas station. When taken into custody, police found an Indiana driver’s license on him with his picture but another person’s name. During an interview with police, Porter admitted to possessing the handgun and firing it multiple times, but said someone shot at him first and he acted in self-defense. He also admitted the identification card was fake.
At the scene, officers recovered 31 shell casings and noted several vehicles had been struck by bullets. Preliminary testing indicated that 19 of those shell casings were fired from Porter’s handgun.
The investigation remains ongoing. Authorities are asking anyone with information about this incident to contact the Peoria Police Department at 309-673-4521.
