UPDATE (May 10): This post has been updated with the newly released bodycam video.
In a heartbreaking turn of events, Senior Airman Roger Fortson, a 23-year-old serving in the Air Force, met a tragic end when he was fatally shot at his apartment in Okaloosa County, Florida.
The circumstances surrounding his death have raised serious concerns about law enforcement’s actions.
According to civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who is representing the case, the shooting occurred after law enforcement officers entered the wrong apartment.
The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office said that Friday afternoon, “Our deputy responded to a call of a disturbance in progress where he encountered an armed man,” leading to the fatal confrontation.
However, the account provided by a woman who was on a FaceTime call with Fortson at the time contradicts this narrative.
The woman, whose identity was not disclosed by Crump, reported that Roger Fortson was alone in his apartment and there was no disturbance when the incident occurred.
She mentioned that Roger heard a knock at his door, inquired about the visitor’s identity, received no response, and saw no one through the peephole.
Despite this, there was a second, more aggressive knock, prompting Fortson to retrieve his legally-owned firearm.
As he returned to the living room, law enforcement officers forcibly entered the apartment, and upon seeing Fortson’s gun, they opened fire, hitting him six times.
The gravity of the situation is further underscored by the woman’s account of Fortson’s final moments.
She witnessed him on the ground, struggling to breathe, and expressing his distress after being shot.
Moreover, she asserted that law enforcement officers had mistakenly targeted Fortson’s apartment, as there was no disturbance or criminal activity taking place.
The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, in response to these claims, has not immediately commented on the allegation that they entered the wrong apartment.
However, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement has initiated an investigation into the shooting, following a request from the sheriff’s department.
Additionally, the state attorney’s office is conducting an independent review of the incident.
Sheriff Eric Aden expressed condolences over the tragic outcome, stating, “All of us at the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office are saddened about the fatal officer-involved shooting over the weekend.”
He also urged patience from the community as they strive to uncover the facts surrounding this devastating event.
Roger Fortson, who was stationed at Hurlburt Field, had been in active duty since November 2019 and was part of the 4th Special Operations Squadron.
Watch a news report below.
On Friday, May 10, the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office released the police bodycam video of the deadly shooting.
Watch the “CBS Mornings” report below.
CBS News released another version of the bodycam video via Instagram that showed an unidentified woman leading the deputy to Roger Fortson’s apartment.
The public is calling out CBS News for releasing a blatantly obvious edited version of the bodycam video.
The base has extended support to Fortson’s family and colleagues during this difficult time, prioritizing casualty affairs services and providing resources to those affected.
As the investigation unfolds, questions linger about the circumstances leading to Fortson’s untimely death and the accountability of law enforcement in cases of mistaken identity and excessive use of force.
The community awaits answers and justice for Senior Airman Roger Fortson.
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Source: NBC News
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