Deputies in Florida mistakenly entered the wrong unit of an apartment complex while responding to a disturbance call. Tragically, they fatally shot a Black U.S. Air Force airman who was alone at home. The deputies entered the unit after they noticed that the airman was armed with a gun. This distressing incident has raised concerns and prompted an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting. The family of the airman is devastated by this tragic loss.
Senior Airman Roger Fortson, a 23-year-old serviceman stationed at Hurlburt Field’s Special Operations Wing, was present in his off-base apartment in Fort Walton Beach when the shooting incident occurred on May 3rd.
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Crump stated that the woman, whose identity he did not disclose, reported that Fortson was by himself in his apartment when he heard a knock on the door. Fortson inquired about the visitor’s identity but received no response. After a few minutes, he heard a louder knock, but when he checked through the peephole, he did not see anyone, as per the woman’s account cited by Crump.
Fortson passed away at a hospital, according to officials. The deputy who was involved in the shooting has been placed on administrative leave while an investigation is being conducted.
Attorney Crump expressed his concerns about the circumstances surrounding Roger’s death, emphasizing the need for prompt answers from the authorities. He particularly highlighted the alarming witness statement indicating that the police had mistakenly entered the wrong apartment.
Attorney Crump emphasized the importance of transparency in the investigation into Roger’s death, urging for the prompt release of the body cam video to the family. He believes that both the family and the public have the right to know the events that unfolded in the moments leading up to this tragic incident.
Benjamin Crump is a renowned attorney hailing from Tallahassee, Florida. Throughout his career, he has played a crucial role in various high-profile cases that revolve around law enforcement shootings, particularly those concerning Black individuals. Notable examples include Ahmaud Arbery, Trayvon Martin, Breonna Taylor, Tyre Nichols, and George Floyd. Crump’s expertise and involvement in these cases have garnered national recognition and respect.
Crump and Fortson’s family are scheduled to address the media at a press conference in Fort Walton Beach on Thursday morning.
The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office has not yet responded to an email or voicemail from The Associated Press regarding Crump’s claims. However, Sheriff Eric Aden expressed his sadness about the shooting in a statement posted on Facebook Wednesday afternoon.
Aden humbly requests the patience of our community as we strive to comprehend the facts behind this tragic event.
According to a statement from the sheriff’s office last week, a deputy who was responding to a disturbance in progress at an apartment complex acted in self-defense when confronted by an armed man. The office did not provide specific information regarding the nature of the disturbance or the identity of the individual who made the call.
The responding deputies and their races were not immediately identified by the sheriff’s office. It was announced earlier this week that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the local State Attorney’s Office will be conducting an investigation into the shooting.
According to FDLE spokeswoman Gretl Plessinger, the agency is not expected to provide any additional comments until the investigation is fully concluded.
Fortson served as a special missions aviator in the 4th Special Operations Squadron. As a member of the AC-130J Ghostrider aircrew, one of his responsibilities was to load the gunship’s 30mm and 105mm cannons during missions.
Fortson’s death bears striking similarities to the deaths of other Black individuals who have been killed by the police in their own homes in recent years. These incidents often involve officers responding to the wrong address or using excessive and deadly force when responding to service calls.
In 2018, Botham Jean, an unarmed Black man, was tragically killed when a white former Dallas police officer mistakenly entered his apartment, believing it to be her own. The former officer, Amber Guyger, was later convicted of murder in 2019 and received a 10-year prison sentence for her actions.
In 2019, a former Fort Worth, Texas officer, Aaron Dean, was found guilty of manslaughter for fatally shooting Atatiana Jefferson. The incident occurred when Dean responded to a nonemergency call about Jefferson’s open front door and fired at her through a rear window of her home. In 2022, Dean was sentenced to nearly 12 years in prison.
In 2021, Crump expressed his determination to enhance the worth of Black life, even if it meant shouldering the responsibility alone. He made this statement to The Associated Press after the conviction of a former Minneapolis officer for the murder of George Floyd.
