Fort Walton Beach, Florida—Body camera footage released by Okaloosa County Sheriff Eric Aden has sparked controversy following the fatal shooting of U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Roger Fortson by a deputy. The incident occurred when Fortson opened his apartment door holding a handgun pointed downward, prompting the deputy to fire shots, a move the family and civil rights attorney Ben Crump deem “unjustifiable.”
The video shows the deputy arriving at the apartment building on May 3, responding to reports of an argument. Despite shouting “Sheriff’s office! Open the door!” twice, the deputy quickly fired upon seeing Fortson with the gun. Fortson, lying on the ground, denied having the weapon, leading to the deputy calling for paramedics.
Crump and Fortson’s family contested the self-defense claim, suggesting the officer did not give Fortson a chance to drop the gun before shooting. They also argued that the police had targeted the wrong apartment, a claim the sheriff’s office denied.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is conducting a criminal investigation into the incident, with no determination yet on the deputy’s actions. Crump, known for his advocacy in high-profile cases of Black individuals killed by law enforcement, characterized Fortson’s death as “unjustifiable” and highlighted the similarities to other police shootings in recent years.
Fortson, a patriot and special missions aviator, leaves behind a grieving family questioning the circumstances surrounding his tragic death.
