A mother is mourning the loss of her son and demanding justice after he was killed by Florida police officers.
U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Roger Fortson, 23, was in his home in Fort Walton Beach, Florida when he was shot by an Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office deputy on May 3.
"He was trying to show me things that people that raised me were supposed to show me as a child,” Chantemekki Fortson, Roger Fortson’s mother, said during a press conference Thursday. “So, to the sheriff's department that took my gift… I need you guys to tell the truth about my son. I need you to get his reputation right. If you have a heart, if you have a niece or nephew, any young person in your life, tell the truth about my son."
The deputy in the fatal incident was responding to a call of a disturbance around 4:30 p.m., according to a released statement from the Oklahoosa County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff Eric Aden of the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office played the body camera footage of the deputy who shot Fortson in a press conference following the news conference with Fortson's family. In the video the deputy can be heard announcing twice that he is with the sheriff's office. Fortson can then be seen opening the door for the deputy with what appears to be a gun in his hand. The officer shot Fortson within seconds of the door opening. Fortson later succumbed to his injuries, according to the sheriff's office.
Fortson was on a call with his girlfriend when he heard a knock on the door, according to Crump. When he asked who it was, he heard no response and could not see through the peephole. He told his girlfriend it looked like someone was covering it on the other side, according to Crump.
Someone knocked the door again aggressively, so Fortson allegedly retrieved his legal firearm and when he returned to the hallway of his front door, officers rammed through the door and shot him six times, Crump said.
The FDLE confirmed with ABC News that they are investigating the deputy-involved shooting.
"FDLE use-of-force cases are independent, fact-finding investigations. The results are referred to the State Attorney’s office to determine further action," FDLE told ABC News in a statement. "As this investigation is active, we do not have additional information to provide at this time."
Fortson's family nor their attorneys saw the body camera footage before their news conference.
Hulburt Field airbase, where Fortson was stationed, stated in a release regarding the shooting that Fortson was assigned to the 4th Special Operations Squadron and entered active duty on Nov. 19, 2019.
"Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office is the lead investigation agency in this incident," according to Hurlburt Field in the statement. "To protect the integrity of the investigation, no other information will be released at this time. The 1st Special Operations Wing’s priorities are providing casualty affairs service to the family, supporting the squadron during this tragic time, and ensuring resources are available for all who are impacted."
The state attorney nor coroner’s office immediately responded to ABC News’ request for comment.
6 comments
He should be convicted of murder to many officers get away with murder because they wear a badge
We must come together and help families with this continued police killing. I’m sorry.
Police killing serviceman….when all they do eat doughnuts come late to crime scene…killing innocent people…they should not issued firearms..the shooter’s be life in prison….no mercy
This coming through the door thing because of a disturbance is not a reason to burst through a door. He (victim) had rights to poses a fire arm on or in side his home. There is no justification for entry. Nothing relating to crime was heard from the other side of the door and domestic crime doesn’t have this type of approach from law enforcement. Stop this madness killing innocent people that count on law enforcement to protect them. This investigation should be concluded as an arrested officer charged with 1st degree murder and family should be rewarded for civil rights violations and officer 15-20 yrs without possibility of parole. This department should be overhaul and specific domestic issues looked at for changes in reference to this unjustified killing.
Amerikkka! Time and time again this is the case! If Fortson was of any other race this would not have happened! Period! “Stop moving! Do not move!” Are you kidding me? Police departments are full of Evil killers!