Air Force Airman's killing by Florida deputy draws strong reaction from each side

WEAR Channel 3 News

9 May 202409:33

Summary

TLDRThe Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office has released body camera footage capturing the moment when a deputy shot and killed Airman Roger Fortson, a 23-year-old, inside his apartment. The incident occurred after deputies responded to a complaint about a disturbance. The family of Fortson, represented by civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump and the Levin Papantonio Rafferty law firm, claim the deputy did not identify himself upon arrival. The body camera video has been released to provide transparency during the ongoing investigation. The footage shows the deputy's approach to the apartment and the subsequent fatal shooting. The family and their attorneys argue that the shooting was unjustified, and they are seeking answers and accountability. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is conducting a criminal investigation into the case.

Takeaways

📡 The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office released body camera footage showing the fatal shooting of Airman Roger Fortson inside his apartment.
🚨 Deputies were responding to a complaint about a disturbance at the apartment complex, which later became the scene of the shooting.
😢 The family of Roger Fortson maintains that the deputy who shot him did not identify himself upon arrival at the apartment.
📛 Civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump represents the family alongside attorneys from the Levin Papantonio Rafferty law firm in Pensacola.
🤔 There are still many unanswered questions according to the family and their attorneys, suggesting a lack of transparency in the case.
🏡 Fortson's mother described her son as a standout individual and expressed her frustration that his true story isn't being told.
🎮 Roger Fortson was reportedly playing video games and had only been home for a short while before the incident occurred.
🚫 Attorney Ben Crump insists that the police entered the wrong apartment and that there were no disturbances when they were called.
🔍 The girlfriend of Roger Fortson was on a FaceTime call with him at the time and witnessed the events unfold.
🏛️ Pensacola attorney Byron Barr said that Fortson deserves to learn more about the case and they will continue fighting for answers.
🛡️ The family and attorneys argue that Fortson, feeling his home was broken into, had the right to protect his home, regardless of who broke in.
📹 The Sheriff's Office showed a 4-minute video detailing the events from the deputies' arrival on the scene until the fatal shooting.

Q & A

What footage was released by the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office?
-The Sheriff's Office released body camera footage showing the moment a deputy shot Airman Roger Fortson, a 23-year-old, inside his apartment.
What was the initial reason for the deputies' response to the apartment?
-Deputies were responding to a complaint about a disturbance inside the apartment.
Who is representing the Fortson family in this case?
-Civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump, along with attorneys from the Levin Papantonio Rafferty law firm in Pensacola, are representing the Fortson family.
What is the family's claim regarding the deputy's actions?
-The family maintains that the deputy who shot Fortson never identified himself when he arrived at the apartment.
What was Roger Fortson's mother's description of her son?
-Sumiko Fortson described her son as the light of her life, a standout in every positive way possible.
What was Roger Fortson's role in the military?
-Roger Fortson was a US Airmen Special Ops.
What does Attorney Ben Crump claim about the police's actions?
-Attorney Ben Crump insists that the police busted into the wrong apartment and that there were no disturbances when they were called.
What was Roger Fortson doing before the incident?
-Roger Fortson had been playing video games and had only been home for about 30 minutes before the incident.
What does the body camera footage show?
-The body camera footage shows the deputy's response from the time he arrived on the scene until the fatal shooting occurred.
What is the current status of the investigation into the shooting?
-The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is conducting a criminal investigation into the case.
What was the Sheriff's Office's stance on transparency regarding the incident?
-The Sheriff's Office has committed to being fully transparent as the investigation moves forward.
What was the Sheriff's Office's response to the claims made by the Fortson family's attorney?
-The Sheriff's Office refuted the claims, stating that the deputy did announce himself twice and that the body camera footage supports this.

Outlines

00:00

📹 Body Camera Footage Released

The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office released body camera footage showing the moment a deputy shot Airman Roger Fortson, 23, inside his apartment. Deputies were responding to a complaint about a disturbance inside the apartment. The video is graphic and shows the tragic chain of events. The family maintains the deputy did not identify himself when he arrived at the apartment. Civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump represents the family and held a press conference. The sheriff also held a press conference to address the shooting and released the body camera video. The family and attorneys have many unanswered questions and are seeking transparency and accountability.

05:01

🚨 Unjustified Shooting and Demand for Transparency

Attorney Ben Crump insists the police busted into the wrong apartment and there were no disturbances. Roger was alone in his apartment playing video games when the police arrived. The girlfriend was on a FaceTime call with him at the time and heard the shots. The family and attorneys met with the sheriff's office and were the first to see the body cam footage. The sheriff's office maintains the deputy announced himself twice and did not cover the peephole. However, the family disputes this. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is conducting a criminal investigation into the case. The family wants to know what happened and for the mistakes to be owned. They will continue fighting for transparency and justice for Roger.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Body Camera Footage

Body camera footage refers to the video recordings captured by a wearable camera that is typically attached to the uniform of a law enforcement officer. In the context of this video, it is a crucial piece of evidence that shows the events leading up to the shooting of Airman Roger Fortson by a deputy. The footage is intended to provide transparency and is central to the investigation into whether the use of force was justified.

💡Deputy

A deputy is a term used to describe a member of a law enforcement agency who holds a position of authority, typically subordinate to a sheriff. In this video, the deputy's actions are under scrutiny for the shooting incident that occurred in Roger Fortson's apartment. The deputy's role and the subsequent events are pivotal to understanding the situation and the ensuing debate over police conduct.

💡Airman

An airman is a member of an air force, typically referring to enlisted personnel rather than officers. In the video, Roger Fortson is identified as a 23-year-old Airman, highlighting his service to the country as part of the U.S. Air Force. His status as an airman adds a layer of complexity to the narrative, as it evokes questions about the treatment of military personnel by law enforcement.

💡Civil Rights Attorney

A civil rights attorney is a legal professional who specializes in advocating for the rights of individuals, ensuring they are not violated by government or other entities. Benjamin Crump, mentioned in the video, is a civil rights attorney representing the Fortson family. His involvement underscores the seriousness of the alleged violation of Roger Fortson's rights and the pursuit of justice in the case.

💡

💡Graphic Content Warning

A graphic content warning is a caution provided to audiences to alert them to the presence of potentially disturbing material. In the video, a graphic content warning is given before showing the body camera footage, indicating the nature of the footage is violent and distressing. This serves to prepare viewers for the intensity of the content and allows them to make an informed choice about whether to continue watching.

💡Unanswered Questions

Unanswered questions refer to the lingering doubts or uncertainties that remain in a situation, particularly one involving an investigation or legal matter. In the context of this video, the Fortson family and their attorneys claim there are many unanswered questions regarding the incident, suggesting that they believe the case has not been fully and transparently addressed by authorities.

💡Transparency

Transparency in this context means the openness and clarity with which information is shared, especially by organizations like the sheriff's office when dealing with the public. The sheriff's office claims that transparency and accountability are their top priorities, as they aim to maintain trust within the community. The release of the body camera footage is presented as an act of transparency in response to the incident.

💡Justified Shooting

A justified shooting is a use of deadly force that is considered lawful, typically in self-defense or defense of others, when there is an imminent threat of harm. The debate over whether the deputy's shooting of Roger Fortson was justified is central to the narrative of the video. The investigation aims to determine if the deputy's actions met the legal and procedural standards for a justified shooting.

💡Patriot

A patriot is an individual who shows a strong love for their country and its ideals, often through active support or service. In the video, Roger Fortson is described as a patriot, emphasizing his role as a U.S. Airmen Special Ops member. This characterization is significant as it adds emotional weight to the narrative, invoking a sense of loss and the tragic nature of his death.

💡Legal Ownership of a Firearm

Legal ownership of a firearm refers to the possession of a gun that is in compliance with the laws and regulations of the jurisdiction in which the owner resides. In the video, it is mentioned that Roger Fortson was a legal owner of a firearm, which he intended to use for his protection. This detail is relevant as it introduces the question of his rights as a gun owner and the circumstances under which law enforcement interacted with him.

💡Press Conference

A press conference is a formal event where members of the media are invited to hear and ask questions about a topic of public interest. In the video, both the Fortson family's attorneys and the sheriff's office held press conferences to address the shooting incident. These conferences are key moments in the public discourse surrounding the case, providing a platform for the presentation of facts, allegations, and official statements.

Highlights

Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office releases body camera footage showing the moment a deputy shot Airman Roger Fortson, 23, who died last Friday

Deputies were responding to a complaint about a disturbance inside an apartment

The body camera footage is graphic and disturbing to watch

The family of Fortson claims the deputy who shot him never identified himself when he arrived at the apartment

Civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump now represents the family along with attorneys from the Levin Papantonio Rafferty law firm in Pensacola

Fortson's mother, Sumiko, says there are still a lot of unanswered questions and her son was a standout in every positive way

Attorney Ben Crump insists police busted into the wrong apartment and there were no disturbances

Crump says Fortson was alone in his apartment playing video games when the police arrived

Fortson's girlfriend was on a FaceTime call with him at the time and heard the shots fired

Attorney Patrick Barr says Fortson's family deserves to learn more about the case and they will continue fighting for answers

The sheriff's office released the 4-minute body camera video detailing the events leading up to the fatal shooting

The video shows the deputy responding to the apartment complex, speaking with a woman in the parking lot, and then approaching Fortson's apartment

The sheriff refused to answer any questions from the media about the case

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is now conducting a criminal investigation into the shooting

Fortson's family and attorneys met with the sheriff's office to view the body camera footage

The family maintains the shooting was not justified and they want the mistakes to be owned and transparency to occur

The military community and visitors have been prioritized in terms of transparency and accountability by the sheriff's office