Updates are still coming in about Roger Fortson, the aviator who was killed in a deputy-involved shooting on Friday, May 3, in Fort Walton Beach.
Following the recent release of body camera footage from the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, national civil rights and personal injury attorney Ben Crumpwho represents the Fortson family, said the new evidence only supports the claim that the deputy entered the wrong apartment.
OCSO claims the officer reacted in self-defense after confronting Fortson, who was armed when he answered his door. Crump and the Fortson’s family is demanding answerssaying deputies are trying to “tarnish his reputation.”
Who is Roger Fortson?
United States Air Force Senior Airman Roger Fortson, 23, was based in the Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field when he was shot to death in his home at Elan Apartments.
According to the Associated PressHe was assigned to the 4th Special Operations Squadron as a special missions airman, where one of his duties as a member of the squadron’s AC-130J Ghostrider crew was to carry the helicopter’s 30mm and 105mm cannons during missions.
Frustration grows in Okaloosa County: Two questionable police officer involved shootings in the county
“Roger enlisted in the military after graduating from high school with honors and had no criminal record,” Crump said in a news release. “By all accounts, he was a stellar member of the Air Force and beloved by his community.”
His mother, Chantimekki Fortson, called Roger Fortson the backbone of their family during a news conference, saying he enlisted in the military after graduating high school to work toward his dream of buying her a house. She added that he was “living his dream” and was well respected by his military superiors and colleagues.
What happened to Roger Fortson in his Fort Walton Beach apartment?
OCSO released for the first time its version of how events unfolded in Fortson’s apartment the night he died in a press release published on social media on Tuesday, May 7th.
According to authorities, authorities were called to Fortson’s apartment around 4:30 pm on Friday, May 3, in reference to an apparent disturbance.
Once a deputy arrived at the scene, authorities said he “reacted in self-defense after encountering a 23-year-old man armed with a gun.” who called them.
Fortson died at his off-base residence, the U.S. Air Force said in a statement.
‘I went into the wrong apartment’ Crump and Fortson family detail different encounter
Crump said the meeting was different from what deputies are saying. At a press conference on May 9, the lawyer said the airman was “shot inside his own apartment by a police officer who broke in while he was chatting on Facetime with his girlfriend.”
In a press release recounting the incident, it details that Fortson heard a knock on the door and asked, “Who is that?” but he could not get an answer. A few minutes later, Fortson heard an “aggressive” knock but couldn’t see anyone when he looked through the peephole.
Fortson, concerned for his safety, recovered his legally owned gun, the release says. When Fortson returned to the living room, the witness said, the officers “broke down his door.” When deputies saw the gun, they shot Fortson six times.
The witness, now revealed to be his girlfriend, said she saw Fortson lying on the ground, stating, “I can’t breathe,” after he was shot. The witness also said police were in the wrong apartment and there was no disturbance, according to the statement.
He and his family publicly claim that the deputy who shot Fortson entered the wrong apartment when responding to a domestic disturbance call and that the agency has since tried to change the story and cover up what really happened.
Okaloosa County Sheriff Eric Aden denied any allegations that the deputy went to the wrong unit or that he forced entry into the apartment.
OCSO releases body camera footage. Crump says this supports his evidence
Amid growing pressure and attention, the Sheriff’s Office released footage from the body camera the deputy was wearing at the time of his encounter with Fortson.
In the video, the deputy can be seen arriving at Fortson’s apartment complex, talking to a woman who said she heard an argument. The video then shows the officer going to the apartment door, knocking and saying twice: “Sheriff’s Office. Open the door.”
Fortson opens the door holding a gun, which he legally owns, pointed at the floor. The deputy yelled, “Stand back,” and then shot Fortson six times. NBC notes that only afterwards did he shout: “Drop the gun, drop the gun.”
The video ends four and a half minutes after Fortson is shot and the deputy calls for medical assistance on his radio.
At a press conference Thursday, Crump said body camera footage corroborated his claim that the deputy entered the wrong apartment while responding to a domestic disturbance call.
“When he opened the door and saw the sheriff’s deputy, Roger had the gun pointed at the ground with one hand and raised the other to signal that he wasn’t going to shoot,” Crump said after watching the video. “There is no doubt that the officer acted on impulse and without adequate training.”
According to NBC, the lawyer also worked audio from a police radio in which a dispatcher says a “room” gave information about the location of the disturbance.
“Uh, there’s nothing left but a man and a woman,” the dispatcher tells the officers. “It’s all third-party information from the leasing office front desk.”
It should be noted that the audio was condensed to remove communications that were not relevant to the incident.
Who is Ben Crump?
Ben Crump is an attorney specializing in civil rights and catastrophic personal injury cases, such as wrongful death lawsuits.
His practice has addressed cases such as:
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Trayvon Martin
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Breona Taylor
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michael brown
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George Floyd
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Keenan Anderson
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People affected by the Flint water crisis,
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The estate of Henrietta Lacks,
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The 2019 Johnson & Johnson baby powder lawsuit alleging that the company’s talcum powder product led to an ovarian cancer diagnosis
What happened to the deputy after Roger Fortson’s murder?
According to the police department, the deputy in question has been placed on paid administrative leave, as is customary in these cases, pending the outcome of an investigation. The deputy was not publicly identified.
Crump and the Fortson family announced Wednesday that wake and funeral plans would take place on Thursday and Friday. Pastor Jamal Bryant will deliver the eulogy at the funeral and attorney Crump will make a plea for justice.
USA Today previously reported that Fortson’s body was reportedly transferred to Atlanta, Georgia, on Tuesday afternoon.
Before the wake, the family will hold a press conference where they will provide updates on how they and Fortson’s dog, Chloe, are doing.
How can you attend Roger Fortson’s funeral?
Fortson’s funeral will be live-streamed from New Birth Missionary Baptist Church YouTube page and website.
Contribution reports: Brandon GirodPensacola News Journal and Collin BestorNorthwest Florida Daily News
This article originally appeared in the Fort Myers News-Press: Ben Crump says body camera video shows cops entered wrong apartment
