Crump US Airman Roger Fortson police shooting answers
Crump wants information US Airman Roger Fortson police shooting incident.
Accident – Death – Obituary News : An active-duty airman tragically lost his life in a deputy-involved shooting in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, last Friday, sparking controversy and questions about the circumstances surrounding his death. The airman, identified as 23-year-old U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Roger Fortson, was assigned to the 4th Special Operations Squadron and had entered active duty in November 2019.
According to the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, the incident occurred when a deputy responded to a call of a disturbance in progress on the afternoon of May 3. The deputy allegedly encountered an armed man and ultimately shot Fortson, who was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Fortson’s family has enlisted the help of renowned civil rights and personal injury attorney Ben Crump to represent them in seeking justice for their loved one. Crump, known for representing the families of Trayvon Martin, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd, among others, has raised concerns about the police’s version of events.
According to Crump’s law office, a witness who was on a FaceTime call with Fortson at the time of the shooting has provided a different account of what transpired. The witness claims that Fortson was alone in his apartment when he heard a knock at his door. After receiving no response to his inquiry of “Who is it?”, Fortson became alarmed when he heard an aggressive knock a few minutes later. Despite not seeing anyone through his peephole, Fortson retrieved his legally owned gun out of concern for his safety.
The situation took a tragic turn when deputies allegedly burst into Fortson’s apartment, prompting him to return to the living room with his gun. In a harrowing moment, deputies reportedly fired six shots at Fortson upon seeing the weapon, leading to his untimely death.
In light of these conflicting narratives, Crump has called for transparency in the investigation into Fortson’s death and the immediate release of body cam footage to provide clarity on the events leading up to the tragedy. The family and the public deserve answers and accountability in the wake of this devastating loss.
As the investigation unfolds, the community mourns the loss of Senior Airman Roger Fortson and seeks justice for his memory. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story as more details come to light.
Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow him on Twitter @GabeHauari or reach out via email at Gdhauari@gannett.com..
1. “US Airman Roger Fortson police shooting details”
2. “Crump seeks answers about US Airman Roger Fortson shooting”.
