Airman Incident
Florida sheriff releases bodycam video of airman fatally shot in apartment
In a recent development that has captured national attention, the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office in Florida released body camera footage from a deputy involved in the fatal shooting of Senior Airman Roger Fortson, a 23-year-old Black U.S. Air Force airman. The incident, which occurred in Fort Walton Beach, has sparked widespread controversy and calls for transparency from the victim's family and civil rights advocates. The release of the video aims to address claims made by Fortson's family that the deputy had mistakenly entered the wrong apartment, leading to the tragic event.
Senior Airman Roger Fortson, stationed at the Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field, was fatally shot in his apartment on May 3. The incident unfolded when deputies, responding to a disturbance call at the Chez Elan Apartments, entered Fortson's residence. According to the sheriff's office, the deputy encountered Fortson armed with a gun and reacted in self-defense. The body camera footage, shown to reporters by Okaloosa County Sheriff Eric Aden, has become a pivotal piece of evidence in understanding the circumstances leading to Fortson's death.
The video begins with the deputy arriving at the apartment complex and being directed to apartment 1401 by a woman outside. The woman informed the deputy of an argument she had overheard in the apartment. The footage then shows the deputy knocking on the door and announcing himself as "Sheriff’s office. Open the door" twice before Fortson opens the door, appearing to hold a handgun pointed downward. Within moments of the door opening, the deputy instructs Fortson to "Step back" and fires multiple shots, causing Fortson to fall to the floor. The deputy is then heard yelling, "Drop the gun" twice, to which Fortson responds, "It’s over there."
Sheriff Eric Aden, addressing the media, emphasized that the deputy had announced himself and had not covered the door's peephole or entered the wrong apartment. This statement directly challenges the claims made by Fortson's family and their attorney, Ben Crump, a prominent civil rights lawyer. Crump and the family have argued that Fortson was on a FaceTime call with his girlfriend during the incident and that there was no disturbance in the apartment, suggesting that the deputies had targeted the wrong unit.
The family's statement, following the release of the footage, reiterated their belief that the police had the wrong apartment, as Fortson was alone and not causing a disturbance. They have called for transparency in the investigation and the immediate release of the body cam video to the public. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and the State Attorney's Office are conducting independent investigations into the shooting, with the deputy involved placed on administrative leave pending the outcome.
The incident has reignited discussions about police conduct, the use of force, and the need for accountability in law enforcement. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, representing Fortson's family, has been vocal in demanding justice and transparency. Crump's involvement has brought national attention to the case, highlighting the ongoing concerns regarding racial bias and the treatment of Black individuals by law enforcement.
As the community awaits further developments, the release of the body camera footage has provided some answers but has also raised more questions about the events leading to Roger Fortson's death. The investigations by the FDLE and the State Attorney's Office are expected to shed more light on the deputy's actions and whether they were justified under the circumstances. In the meantime, Fortson's family and supporters continue to seek clarity and accountability for the loss of a young airman described as a respected member of the Air Force and loved by his community.