Man killed in attempted drug deal on Lake Street

Nearly two dozen family members and friends of a man shot and killed without provocation on Lake Street last week jammed the Hennepin County Public Safety Facility Wednesday afternoon as his suspected killer made his first court appearance.

Police say Angel Jesus Zavala Gallegos shot D'Shawn JC Porter in the head last week during an attempted midday drug deal two blocks from the Midtown Global Market on Lake Street in Minneapolis. Porter's family said he was the latest victim of a drug epidemic that contributed to his death.

The Hennepin County Attorney's Office filed first-degree murder charges against Gallegos on Tuesday after police used witness testimony, surveillance video and fingerprint analysis to prove his presence at the crime scene.

Judge Daniel Moreno set bail at $1 million. Gallegos, 21, of Minneapolis, said he was surprised by the timing of the first court appearance and did not have his attorney, Cean Shads, present to represent him. Calls to Shads went to a voicemail that was full and unable to accept messages.

Porter, a 26-year-old from Inver Grove Heights, was affectionately known as “Fatboy” and was one of five children. Damon Walker, his oldest brother, said Porter struggled with drug problems but was loved and supported, whether it was giving him money, a ride or a place to stay. He said his brother was never kicked out of the house or stole from his family, but his struggle with addiction may have been embarrassing.

“This fentanyl is taking over the world,” Walker said.

He added that lax policing, treatment options and legal punishment for drug use in Minneapolis played a role in his brother's death. He said that when he drives around parts of Minneapolis these days, he is reminded of the HBO series “The Wire.”

“We need more places for these people to go, we need to stop slapping their fingers,” Walker said. “They come [into court] on drugs, addicted. They tell them to follow Rule 25 and they let them out and all they do is run right back into the same area.”