ROGER Fortson was sitting in his apartment, alone, when authorities reportedly burst through the door and shot him several times.
Fortson’s attorney says the active-duty airman was killed in what is believed to be a case of mistaken identity, and alleges that police entered the wrong apartment, and tragically shot the wrong man.
Who was airman Roger Fortson?
Roger Fortson was a U.S. Air Force Senior Airman according to a 1st Special Operations Wing spokesperson.
Fortson was based at the Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field, Florida.
He was a member of the 4th Special Operations Squadron, and entered active duty on November 19, 2019.
He had enlisted in the Air Force after graduating high school.
““He was living his dream,” Benjamin Crump, Fortson’s family’s attorney said.
“By doing so, he was going to make it better for his mother and siblings so they could have a better chance at the American dream,” Crump said.
Fortson’s squadron was one of nine in the 1st Special Operations Wing, and one of two that fly the AC-130 gunship.
Forston was a Special Mission Aviator assigned to the AC-130J gunship.
Along with his fellow crew members, he would “fire the plane’s 30mm and 105mm guns at ground targets, along with GBU-39 bombs, AGM-114 hellfire and AGM-176 Griffin missiles, and the GBU-69 Small Glide Munition,” as reported by Task and Purpose.
Not only was Fortson an active-duty service member who had just returned from a mission overseas, he also supported himself and his family.
He had no previous criminal record, was military-trained, and was reportedly a model citizen to those who knew him.
What happened to him?
On Friday, May 3, 2024, Roger Fortson was reportedly alone at his off-base apartment, about five miles from his base.
He lived at the Chez Elan Apartments on Racetrack Road, and was reportedly on FaceTime at around 4:30 pm when he heard a knock on the door.
He asked who was there, and after receiving no response, checked the peep hole in his door, but didn’t see anyone.
According to the woman Fortson was on FaceTime with, who wishes to remain anonymous, Fortson reportedly grew concerned, and retrieved his gun, which he legally owned.
Authorities then reportedly burst through the door, saw that Fortson was armed, and shot him six times.
Fortson was taken to a local hospital, where he eventually succumbed to his injuries and died.
According to the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, a deputy had responded to a call about a disturbance in progress at the Chez Elan Apartments.
OCSO Sheriff Eric Aden released a statement about the shooting, calling the event “tragic.”
“All of us at the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office are saddened about the fatal officer involved shooting over the weekend,” the statement said.
“Late Friday afternoon, our deputy responded to a call of a disturbance in progress where he encountered an armed man.”
“The deputy shot the man, who later succumbed to his injuries,” the statement said, referring to Fortson.
“I immediately placed the deputy on administrative leave and have asked the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to conduct the investigation that is required in such incidents.”
“The State Attorney’s Office will also conduct an independent review.”
“At this time, we humbly ask for our community’s patience as we work to understand the facts that resulted in this tragic event.”
What did civil rights attorney Ben Crump say about Roger’s death?
Roger Fortson’s family has retained Ben Crump to represent them in their case.
Benjamin Lloyd Crump, known as Ben Crump, is an American attorney who specializes in personal injury and civil rights cases, including wrongful death lawsuits.
Crump has previously represented the families of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Trayvon Martin.
“For whatever reason, they thought [Fortson] was a bad guy, but he was a good guy. He was a great guy. He was an exceptional guy,” Crump said, as reported by AP News.
“They took a patriot from us,” he said, before adding that law enforcement entered the wrong unit in the apartment complex.
“The circumstances surrounding Roger’s death raise serious questions that demand immediate answers from authorities, especially considering the alarming witness statement that the police entered the wrong apartment,” Crump wrote in his statement on Wednesday, May 8, 2024.
“The narrative released by law enforcement, which falsely suggests that Roger posed a threat, is deeply troubling and inconsistent with the details provided by that witness: Roger was home alone, causing no disturbance, when his life was tragically cut short by law enforcement.”
Crump previously stated that Fortson was on a FaceTime call when he heard a knock on the door.
“We are calling for transparency in the investigation into Roger’s death and the immediate release of body cam video to the family.”
“His family and the public deserve to know what occurred in the moments leading up to this tragedy,” Crump added in the statement.
“We urge authorities to immediately stop demonizing Roger in their statements to the media.”
“It’s imperative to correct the record and acknowledge the wrongful entry into Roger’s home.”
“What we know for sure is that Roger was a dedicated U.S. Airman serving the country and a cherished member of his community.”
“Any attempts to tarnish his character only compound the pain felt by his loved ones.”
“We demand justice for Roger Fortson. We demand accountability for those responsible for his death.”
“And we stand in solidarity with Roger’s family and friends as they navigate this unimaginable loss,” Crump wrote.