Kevin E. Porter Jr., 19, of Gary, has been charged after police alleged a social media post showing him displaying a modified Glock handgun led investigators to recover the firearm during a traffic stop.

According to court records, a detective assigned to the Gary Real Time Crime Center was monitoring surveillance cameras and social media platforms during a special saturation patrol following a recent spike in gun violence when he observed a video allegedly posted by Porter. Police said the video, time-stamped 7:50 p.m., showed Porter waving a Glock handgun fitted with a weapon-mounted light and a gold auto sear, commonly known as a “switch.” Investigators determined the video was recorded at the Citgo gas station in the 1500 block of Broadway, where surveillance footage allegedly captured Porter entering the business and holding the firearm up to an employee behind the counter, clearly displaying the gold auto sear attached to the rear of the slide. Detectives then used the city’s Operation Safe Zone camera network to identify the vehicle Porter allegedly left in.

Police located the Chevrolet Malibu a short time later near 16th Avenue and Kentucky Street and conducted a traffic stop. According to court documents, officers detected the odor of raw marijuana coming from the vehicle and conducted a probable cause search. Police said several firearms were recovered from the occupants and inside the vehicle. Investigators said they found a loaded Glock 21 handgun concealed beneath the center console that was equipped with the same gold auto sear allegedly seen in the social media video. The handgun contained a loaded magazine and one round in the chamber.

During a recorded interview, Porter admitted the firearm shown in the social media video belonged to him and acknowledged it was equipped with a “switch.” According to court records, Porter also confirmed the social media account was his and admitted he regularly posted content on it. He told investigators he knew the device converted the handgun into a machine gun, admitted placing the firearm beneath the center console before the traffic stop, and said he found the gun while cleaning out a house a couple of weeks earlier and decided to keep it. Investigators wrote they did not believe that explanation, stating Porter had allegedly posted several previous social media videos showing firearms equipped with similar conversion devices.

Charges filed July 25, 2026:

Possession of a Machine Gun — Level 5 Felony