UPDATE: Pal Pleads Not Guilty to Murder as Fundraiser Aids Widow

On the same day a Porter Ranch man accused of shooting to death a childhood pal pleaded not guilty to murder charges in a San Fernando courthouse, two brothers opened their Calabasas and Westlake restaurants on Tuesday for a fundraiser benefiting the victim’s widow, small child and twins expected next month.

David Andrew Armstrong, 32, is charged in the March 18 killing of 32-year-old Brian Russell Kaplon, a digital distribution executive with NBC Universal. Both men are Chatsworth High School alumni who grew up as friends.

Armstrong was ordered to surrender his passport, but remains free on $1 million bail pending the next court appearance on May 24.

Meanwhile, Michael and Adam Goldberg, co-owners of Fresh Brothers, contributed 20 percent of all sales at their Calabasas and Westlake restaurants to Kaplon’s widow, Kristi, the couple’s daughter, Chloe, and her soon-to-be-born twins.

As of 5 p.m. Tuesday, $1,000 was raised before the “dinner rush.”

“This is great,” said Michael Goldberg, who had to step outside the restaurant to talk because of the noisy crowd. “This shows how close and tight-knit the communities are. It’s great to be a part of this effort and see how the community has come together to help this family.”

By 8 p.m., when the event ended, Michael Goldberg said, “We don't have final [numbers] yet but it will be close to $2,000. People were so sincere. Even had a couple [who] were so touched by the fundraiser they could barely speak. They were tearing up.”

Goldberg said he was approached by Jen Levinson, a friend and family member of the Kaplons, to hold the fundraiser.

On Levinson’s blog, she says so many want to help Kristi, a Granada Hills High School graduate, during this tragedy.

Levinson’s goal is to provide a night nurse for at least three months after the twins are born.

“Every $200 we raise is another night of the night nurse to help Kristi with the twins,” Levinson said. “Families can combine their donations; two families donating $100 each gets Kristi help for another night.”

The fatal shooting happened at 12:45 a.m. on March 18 in the garage of Armstrong's Porter Ranch home in the 20000 block of Vercelli Way, where both men had apparently been drinking at a St. Patrick's Day party.

Kaplon died from at least one shot to the chest fired from an AR-15, a semiautomatic, civilian version of a U.S. military M16. Most fire .223-caliber bullets.

Levinson said Kaplon, who died instantly, had been in the process of obtaining life insurance, but the paperwork had not been completed.

Authorities said Armstrong kept a collection of guns in the garage.

An attorney for Armstrong has said the shooting was accidental.

“There was no intent ever to harm his best friend. This was an accident based on two friends who were drinking and not following the proper safety precautions in the handling of a rifle,'' lawyer James Blatt told the Los Angeles Times last month.

Blatt said Armstrong called 911 after the shooting and tried to save Kaplon.

“They were best friends since fifth grade. They were like brothers,” Blatt said. “Their wives were very close. Each family was an integral part of the other family's life,'' he told the Times.

The Times reported on Tuesday that a Los Angeles Police Department source
said Armstrong was showing Kaplon the rifle when a round from the weapon
discharged into Kaplon's chest. Armstrong, who worked for his father-in-law's
foam packaging company, was arrested after allegedly making conflicting statements and based on additional evidence that investigators declined to detail, the Times reported.

An attorney for Armstrong said a second shot had been fired, which lodged in
the attic and the LAPD and the district attorney's office were informed about the
discovery of that evidence, the Times reported.

Kaplon, who worked in the finance department at NBC Universal, was described by friends and co-workers as affable and creative.

Armstrong faces 50 years to life in prison if he is convicted of murder as well as  sentence enhancement for using a gun.

The Times also reported on Tuesday that Armstrong’s attorney, Blatt, said the defense has turned over additional information to prosecutors and detectives that included phone records and text messages between Armstrong and Kaplon.

In addition, the defense also turned over cellphone records from Armstrong’s
wife and mother-in-law. The women and Armstrong were also interviewed again by the LAPD.

"What appears to have happened is that Armstrong and Kaplon had been drinking that evening," Blatt said, according to the Times. "At the time of the incident, my client had a blood-alcohol level of 0.15, which is approximately double the legal limit for driving."

To help the Kaplon family, visit https://sites.google.com/site/kristikaplon/home?pli=1

Also, a trust fund has been established. Donations can be sent to:

For Benefit of The Family of Brian Kaplon
c/o US Trust, Bank of America
1100 North King St., Bracebridge I
Wilmington, DE 19884
Attention: Laura Baerwald

Additionally, grocery store and gas gift cards can be sent to kristikaplon@gmail.com.

City News Service contributed to this report.

Do you know the Kaplon or Armstrong families? What can you contribute to their profiles?