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Friends, family mourn Porter
Pastor Samuel Moore, right, of Full Gospel Assembly, leads those in a prayer during a candlelight vigil for Joe Jeremaine Porter on Friday, November 13, 2009, in front of Club Babylon on 4th Avenue.
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HUNTINGTON -- Friends and family members comforted one another in front of Club Babylon on 4th Avenue in Huntington on Friday night during a candlelight vigil to remember Joe Jeremaine Porter, who was shot and killed by police during an altercation at the club on Sunday.
Those who knew Porter best spoke about his character, dedication to his family and sense of humor that made him loved by many. Others held on to loved ones, too distraught to speak about the man they lost days ago. Several people wore shirts with Porter's picture on the front and "Forever in our hearts" on the back.
Porter, 30, died from a single gunshot wound to the chest after an exchange of gunfire at the downtown Huntington bar. Huntington Police say an officer fired on Porter when he pointed a gun in the officer's direction.
Jenny Miller, Porter's fiancee, doesn't believe the father of her 14-month old daughter, Layla, would have ever acted aggressively against police. He cared too much about his child, Porter said, to have put himself in a bad situation.
"All he ever wanted was a child and he got that," Jenny Miller said. "He was a great father and very active in her life."
"She's only 14-months old and she'll never know who he is, never," Jenny Miller said. "What happened wasn't right."
Pastor Samuel R. Moore with the Full Gospel Assembly Church led those in attendance in prayer at the beginning of the vigil. Supporters marched from the club to the police station on 10th Street and 7th Avenue.
There they sang songs, prayed and spoke about the importance of the black community in Huntington to come together and show their support for the family. Then the group marched once around the police station. Jenny Miller said she was proud to see so many people come out to the vigil to remember Porter and stand behind him.
"There's no one that's had his back that's spoke up or said anything," Jenny Miller said. "Tonight was the night that let everyone know that people do care."
Renee Miller, Jenny Miller's mother, said there's been a lot of negative things said about Porter. Some people think that because he was out at a bar, he can't be a good father or person. But that wasn't the case with Porter, Renee Miller said.
"I've seen so many negative comments on the Internet, that it's overwhelmed me," Renee Miller said. "Somebody's lost a son, a father and to say the things that people have said... they don't even know him.
"He couldn't be the monster everyone thinks he is," she said.
Another candlelight vigil is planned for 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14 at the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Huntington. There will also be a viewing at the church during that time. The church is located at 1647 9th Avenue.
