Deputies responding to a disturbance call at a Florida apartment complex mistakenly entered the wrong unit, leading to the fatal shooting of Black U.S. Air Force airman, Senior Airman Roger Fortson, aged 23. Fortson, who was based at the Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field, was alone in his home at the time of the incident when deputies saw he was armed with a gun. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, representing Fortson’s family, stated that Fortson was on a video call with a woman who confirmed he was alone in his apartment when the deputies arrived.
The woman reported that Fortson was alarmed by aggressive knocking at the door, prompting him to retrieve his legally owned gun. As Fortson walked back through his living room, deputies forcibly entered the apartment, saw the gun, and proceeded to shoot him six times. Fortson, who repeatedly said he couldn’t breathe, later died at the hospital. The deputy involved in the shooting has been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation. Crump expressed concern over the circumstances surrounding Fortson’s death and called for transparency in the investigation, urging authorities to release body cam footage.
Crump, a well-known attorney based in Tallahassee, Florida, has been involved in several high-profile cases of law enforcement shootings involving Black individuals. He and Fortson’s family plan to address the media at a news conference in Fort Walton Beach to seek answers regarding the events leading up to the shooting. The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office stated that the deputy acted in self-defense after encountering an armed man while responding to a disturbance call at the apartment complex. The office did not provide details on the nature of the disturbance or the identity of the caller.
Officials announced that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and the local State Attorney’s Office will investigate the shooting. FDLE spokesperson Gretl Plessinger mentioned that the agency is unlikely to provide further information until the investigation is completed. Sheriff Eric Aden expressed sadness about the fatal shooting and placed the deputy on administrative leave, requesting the FDLE to conduct the necessary investigation. The State Attorney’s Office will also conduct an independent review of the incident, and Aden asked for the community’s patience as they seek to understand the circumstances leading to the tragedy.
Fortson, a special missions aviator assigned to the 4th Special Operations Squadron, played a crucial role as a member of the squadron’s AC-130J Ghostrider aircrew in loading the gunship’s cannons during missions. Fort Walton Beach, situated in the Florida Panhandle between Panama City Beach and Pensacola, was the location of the unfortunate incident. The community awaits further developments as authorities continue to investigate the shooting and seek answers regarding the events that led to the death of Senior Airman Roger Fortson.
