Police in Florida have released bodycam footage showing the fatal shooting of Air Force airman Roger Fortson, 23, by a deputy as he answered the door to his apartment. Fortson, a Black senior airman, was seen in the video holding a handgun by his side as he opened the door before the deputy opened fire multiple times at close range. Fortson later died in the hospital and the bodycam footage was released after the family’s civil rights attorney, Ben Crump, urged officials to make it public. There is dispute between the family and local police as to what really happened in the lead-up to the deadly shooting in Okaloosa County, Florida.
The deputy was responding to a domestic disturbance report on May 3, but Fortson’s family claims that law enforcement knocked on the wrong door and the deputy gave no verbal commands before shooting. The family believes that the police had the wrong apartment as Fortson was on the phone with his girlfriend leading up to the shooting and no one else was in the apartment. The video shows the deputy knocking on the door and shouting for Fortson to open it before firing multiple shots when Fortson appeared with a gun in his hand. Sheriff Eric Aiden of the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office disputed claims that the deputy entered the wrong apartment and stated that the investigation needs to answer many questions before a determination can be made about whether the officer’s actions were justified.
It remains unclear who called law enforcement on the day of the shooting and why. In other bodycam footage, a woman directed the deputy to apartment 1401, where she said she heard noises sounding like domestic abuse two weeks prior, but there was no indication of any disturbance at that apartment on the day of the shooting. Crump stated that Fortson was on a FaceTime call with his girlfriend when he heard the knock on the door and retrieved his legally owned gun before walking back to the door where the shooting occurred. Crump also released FaceTime video from the call that captured Fortson moaning and saying “I can’t breathe” as he lay mortally wounded.
Fortson was a member of the Air Force supporting the special operations wing at Hurlburt Field and was described by his family and attorney as a patriot who respected authority. Crump, who was also the attorney for the family of Breonna Taylor, emphasized that Fortson always dreamed of becoming a pilot and followed the rules. Taylor, a 26-year-old Black woman and emergency medical technician, had also died in a similar circumstance to Fortson when police burst into her apartment with a drug warrant. Crump stated that no drugs or cash were found at Taylor’s apartment and emphasized the tragic loss of both Taylor and Fortson in police-involved shootings.
The footage of Fortson’s shooting shows the deputy knocking on the door and calling out before shooting Fortson multiple times as he appeared with a gun in his hand. The family disputes the police’s version of events, claiming that they had the wrong apartment and no verbal commands were given before the shooting occurred. The investigation into the incident is ongoing, and the family and local police continue to disagree on what led to the deadly shooting in Okaloosa County, Florida. These incidents raise questions about police accountability and the use of lethal force in situations involving Black individuals.
In conclusion, the fatal shooting of Air Force airman Roger Fortson by a deputy in Florida has sparked controversy and speculation as to what led to the deadly encounter. The release of bodycam footage has shed light on the events that took place, but there are conflicting accounts between the family and local police regarding the circumstances of the shooting. The tragic loss of Fortson, a dedicated service member, has raised concerns about police actions and their response to calls involving Black individuals. The ongoing investigation will hopefully provide clarity and accountability regarding the events that led to the shooting and ensure justice for Fortson and his family.