FORT WALTON BEACH, FL – A shocking event took place on May 3, when deputies mistakenly entered an apartment in Florida and fatally shot a U.S. Air Force airman, according to the family’s legal representative. The airman, identified as Senior Airman Roger Fortson, 23, was stationed with the Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field and was at his off-base residence in Fort Walton Beach during the incident.
Ben Crump, a renowned civil rights attorney representing the family, shared that Fortson was engaged in a Facetime call with a woman when the incident occurred. The woman, whose identity has not been disclosed, narrated that Fortson was alone when he heard a knock at his door. Receiving no response to his inquiry about the visitor, Fortson retrieved his legally owned firearm for protection.
According to Crump, as Fortson was making his way back to his living room, deputies stormed into his apartment and shot him six times upon seeing him armed. The woman on the call reported that Fortson was struggling to breathe after being shot.
Fortson was taken to a hospital following the incident, where he later died. The deputy involved in the shooting has been placed on administrative leave while an investigation is underway.
The woman on the call with Fortson maintained that there was no disturbance during their conversation, leading her to suspect that the deputies had targeted the wrong apartment. Crump supported her claim, stating that the circumstances surrounding Fortson’s death necessitate immediate answers from the authorities.
Crump, who has been involved in numerous high-profile law enforcement shooting cases involving Black individuals, has demanded transparency in the investigation into Fortson’s death. He has also called for the immediate release of the body cam footage to Fortson’s family.
The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office has yet to respond to Crump’s allegations. However, Sheriff Eric Aden expressed his condolences over the incident on Facebook, asking for the community’s patience as they work to unravel the events that led to this tragic occurrence.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the local State Attorney’s Office are slated to investigate the shooting. The incident bears a striking resemblance to other cases where Black individuals have been fatally shot by police in their homes under similar circumstances.