Community calls for action after 14-year-old shot and killed in Michigan City on Friday

MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. — A community is calling for change after 14-year-old, Devin Porter, was shot and killed in front of his home on Friday.

Police are still searching for the suspect who shot and killed Devin Porter Friday afternoon. Porter was a freshman at Michigan City High School.

ABC57 went door to door speaking with neighbors on Monday. One woman shared the violence literally came to her front porch and she's absolutely right. She showed us a bullet hole left behind in the side of a neighbor's home.

Neighbors tell ABC57 they're sick about the shooting and say this never used to happen here. One woman even shared she moved from Gary to Michigan City and now she says Michigan City is turning into Gary.

India Harrington, Devin Porter's mom, says she's now gone from preparing for her son's birthday next weekend to planning for his funeral.

"We were just talking about his birthday on the 24th. Now, I got to talk about burying my son," shared Harrington.

Michigan City police responded to a shooting around 4:30 Friday afternoon near the 300 block of West 11th Street. Devin's mom says he was a beloved freshman at Michigan City High School who was on the honor roll and loved to play basketball.

"He was going to the Y out here to play ball."

Neighbors say the senseless violence is stealing the lives of young children and ruining the lives of countless others. Devin's mom says the violence has to stop.

"These kids is innocent out here getting hurt, killed and they don't deserve this. My son didn't deserve this; he didn't do nothing to nobody."

ABC57 contacted Michigan City Police Department and Michigan City Area Schools. MCPD was unavailable for an interview but later sent a joint statement with Michigan City Mayor Angie Nelson Deuitch.

MCAS said they are not doing interviews at this time but shared the following statement from Superintendent Dr. McCollum regarding student support services:

"This has been an incredibly difficult time for our school community. Over the past week, we have experienced the heartbreaking loss of two Michigan City High School students in separate off-campus acts of violence. Our thoughts continue to be with the students’ families, friends, classmates, teachers, and everyone impacted by these tragedies.

Like many members of our community, I am grieving, concerned, and searching for answers. I also understand the fear and uncertainty many families are feeling right now. Students should not have to experience the loss of classmates and friends in this way, and families should not have to carry this kind of worry.

While these incidents did not occur on school grounds or during school-sponsored activities and are still under active police investigations, please know that the safety and well-being of our students and staff remain our highest priority.

For the remainder of the school year, Michigan City Area Schools will continue providing additional counseling and mental health support services for students and staff at Michigan City High School.

Additional safety and support measures also remain in place at the high school throughout the school day.

As the school year comes to an end, district leadership will continue working with the City of Michigan City, the Michigan City Police Department, the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office, mental health partners, and other community organizations to evaluate ongoing student support needs throughout the summer months.

I may not have every answer today, but I want our families to know this: we care deeply about our students, we take these concerns seriously, and we will continue doing everything we can to support a safe and welcoming learning environment for everyone."