May 9th 2024.
A tragic incident at a Florida apartment complex has left the family of Senior Airman Roger Fortson devastated. The 23-year-old, who was stationed at the Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field, Florida, was alone in his off-base apartment when deputies responded to a disturbance call. However, things took a horrifying turn when they allegedly entered the wrong unit and fatally shot the Black U.S. Air Force airman.
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump is representing Fortson's family and has shed light on the events that led to his untimely death. According to Crump, Fortson was on a Facetime call with an unidentified woman who witnessed the fatal shooting. The witness revealed that Fortson had heard a knock at the door and had asked who it was, but received no response. As the knocks grew more aggressive and he couldn't see anyone through the peephole, Fortson became concerned and retrieved his legally owned gun. However, before he could even fully enter the living room, officers burst through the door and shot him six times.
Crump further explained that the witness saw Fortson lying on the ground, saying "I can't breathe," before he was taken to the hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. The officer involved in the shooting has been placed on administrative leave while an investigation is being conducted. Okaloosa Sheriff Eric Aden has also requested the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to handle the investigation and the State Attorney's Office to conduct an independent review.
In the midst of this devastating loss, Fortson's family is seeking answers and justice. Crump is calling for transparency in the investigation and urging the police to release the body cam footage of the incident. "We are calling for transparency in the investigation into Roger's death and the immediate release of body cam video to the family," Crump stated in an interview with ABC News. "His family and the public deserve to know what occurred in the moments leading up to this tragedy."
Fortson, who was assigned to the 4th Special Operations Squadron as a special missions aviator, was a dedicated and respected member of the U.S. Air Force. He had no prior criminal history and was simply going about his day when this unfortunate and fatal incident occurred. The loss of this young and promising airman has left a void in the hearts of his loved ones and the community.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
