May 13th 2024.
Recently, the tragic death of Florida Airman Roger Fortson has sparked a heated discussion among experts. It was a fatal shooting that occurred on May 3rd, when a Sheriff deputy shot Fortson after he opened the door of his apartment with a gun in his hand. According to the experts, Fortson's possession of a gun did not justify the use of deadly force against him.
The incident took place when the deputy responded to a complaint about an argument. Fortson was alone in his apartment at the time, while also video-calling his girlfriend. His supporters believe that this was yet another instance of an officer using excessive force, and it adds to the alarming trend of police fatally shooting Black individuals in their own homes, as reported by ABC News.
However, the authorities argue that the deputy, who remains unidentified, had to make a quick decision if he felt his life was in danger. But according to some experts, the mere presence of a gun is not enough to justify the use of deadly force. Ian Adams, an assistant professor of Criminology and a former police officer, explained how the increasing ownership of guns makes the situation more complex.
"The speed at which the shooting happened is quite intense. It all happened very quickly," Adams analyzed the footage. "Having a gun in the equation definitely increases the risk, but its mere presence is not a sufficient reason for using deadly force."
He further added, "We also have to consider that we live in a country where there are more guns than people. If the mere presence of a gun was enough for reasonable use of deadly force, we would see numerous police shootings happening all the time."
The incident gained national attention due to the released body-camera footage and Fortson's rank in the Air Force. In the video, which was released on May 9, the deputy can be seen banging on Fortson's door and yelling that he was from the sheriff's office. Within seconds of Fortson's appearance at the door with his gun allegedly by his side, the deputy fired six shots in his direction and then commanded him to drop his weapon.
Ben Crump, the Fortson family's attorney, argued that the deputy's failure to give a verbal warning ultimately led to this senseless death. Other supporters of Fortson within the Air Force also believe that his killing was unjustified.
"When the deputy opened fire with six rounds on a senior airman who was simply standing at his door with a gun, it was clear that this was an unjust action," said Scott Lacey, a retired Air Force Special Operations Command Officer. "Fortson did not raise his gun or show any signs of hostility."
It is worth noting that the Okaloosa Sheriff's Department, the department where the deputy worked, has a history of facing allegations of using excessive and unjust force. The department is currently facing ongoing lawsuits for its mistreatment of Black residents, in particular, the case of LaTanya Griffin. In 2019, the police forcefully entered Griffin's home with a battering ram and forced her to stay naked upon her arrest, despite not being charged with any crime.
As the investigation into Fortson's death continues, authorities are expected to make a decision soon on whether the officer involved should be charged. This incident serves as a tragic reminder that there is still a long way to go in addressing the issue of excessive use of force by law enforcement, particularly towards Black individuals.
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