Deputies responding to a disturbance call at a Florida apartment complex mistakenly entered the wrong unit and fatally shot U.S. Air Force airman Roger Fortson, 23, who was home alone. Fortson was based at the Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field and was in his off-base apartment in Fort Walton Beach at the time of the shooting on May 3. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump stated that Fortson was speaking with a woman on Facetime during the incident. The woman reported that Fortson was unarmed when he heard knocking at his door and eventually retrieved his legally owned gun out of concern. Deputies burst in and shot Fortson six times, causing his death.
The woman who was on the Facetime call with Fortson reported that he was not causing any disturbance during their conversation. Crump’s statement suggests that the deputies may have entered the wrong apartment and mistook Fortson for someone causing a disturbance. The deputy involved in the shooting has been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation into the incident. Crump and Fortson’s family are calling for transparency in the investigation and the immediate release of body camera footage to shed light on the events leading up to the shooting.
The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, responding deputies, and investigators have called for patience as they work to understand the facts surrounding Fortson’s death. The sheriff’s office stated that the deputy involved reacted in self-defense after encountering an armed man but did not offer details on the nature of the disturbance or the identity of the caller. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the local State Attorney’s Office are conducting an investigation into the shooting. FDLE has indicated that they will not comment further on the case until the investigation is complete.
Fortson, a special missions aviator, was known for his role in loading cannons on the AC-130J Ghostrider gunship during missions. His death draws parallels to previous incidents where Black individuals were killed by police in their homes due to officers responding to the wrong address or the use of excessive force. Crump, a well-known civil rights attorney, has been involved in high-profile cases representing families of Black individuals killed by law enforcement, including George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Trayvon Martin, Breonna Taylor, Tyre Nichols, and others.
The shooting of Fortson has brought attention to ongoing issues surrounding police shootings of Black individuals and the need for accountability in law enforcement actions. Cases like that of Botham Jean and Atatiana Jefferson, who were both killed by officers responding to the wrong address, highlight the dangers faced by minority communities in their own homes. Crump’s efforts to seek justice and increase awareness of the value of Black life in America continue as he represents Fortson’s family in seeking answers and accountability for this tragic incident.
Fort Walton Beach, located in the Florida Panhandle between Panama City Beach and Pensacola, has now become the center of an investigation into the death of Roger Fortson. The incident has once again raised concerns about police use of force and the need for transparency in such cases. As the investigation unfolds, the call for justice for Fortson and his family continues, with hopes that the release of body camera footage will provide clarity on the events leading up to the tragic shooting.
