Killing of Roger Fortson

Roger Fortson
United States Air Force portrait of Fortson in 2019[1][2]
Born
Roger Negale Fortson[3]

(2001-04-15)April 15, 2001[4]
Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
DiedMay 3, 2024(2024-05-03) (aged 23)
Fort Walton Beach, Florida, U.S.
Cause of deathGunshot wound
Resting placeLincoln Memorial Cemetery
Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
EducationMcNair High School[5]
OccupationUnited States Air Force serviceman
Years active2019–2024
Known forGetting killed by police
Parents
  • Roger Wilburn (father)
  • Chantemekki Fortson (mother)

On May 3, 2024, United States Air Force serviceman Roger Fortson was fatally shot in his home in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, by Deputy Eddie Duran of the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office.[6][7] Duran was fired by the end of the month, after the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office concluded that Duran's "use of deadly force was not objectively reasonable" because "Fortson did not make any hostile, attacking movements".[8]

Shooting

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Police radio audio showed a disturbance report made on May 3, 2024, around 4.30 p.m., for a residential complex, where a deputy said: "Don't have anything further than a male and female; it's all fourth-party information from the front desk at the leasing office".[9]

Body camera footage shows an Okaloosa County Sheriff's deputy being told by a woman in a residential complex to go to Apartment 1401.[10] The woman tells the deputy that "two weeks ago" when walking beside that apartment, she heard some "yelling" and profanities, as well as the sound of a slap, but she was not sure where that sound came from.[11]

According to body camera footage, the sheriff's deputy arrived at Apartment 1401, and initially knocked without announcing who he was.[10] The deputy then moves off to the side of the door, where it seems he cannot be seen from the apartment's peephole.[6] About 30 seconds later, the deputy knocks on the door again, this time announcing: "Sheriff’s office, open the door."[10][12] Around 10 seconds later, the deputy knocks on the door another time, and again announces: "Sheriff's office, open the door."[12][13] According to Fortson's mother and his girlfriend, who had been on FaceTime with him, Fortson heard a knock on his door and received no response when he asked who was at the door. His girlfriend also indicated that Fortson attempted to look through his peephole but was unable to see anyone, and had armed himself believing that someone was breaking in.[14]

According to body camera footage, Fortson opens the door holding a gun in his right hand, with the gun held by his side and pointed downwards.[6][10] As the door opens, the deputy tells Fortson to "step back" and immediately shoots Fortson.[6][10][1] Five or six gunshots are fired.[13] Around the time Fortson is shot, he lifts his left hand in front of his chest.[10] Fortson falls to the floor, and it is only then that the deputy tells Fortson: "Drop the gun!"[6][10]

After the shooting, Fortson was brought to a hospital, where he died.[13]

Response

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On May 4, 2024, the Okaloosa County's Sheriff's Office said that the shooting occurred at an apartment after a sheriff's deputy responded to a call of a "disturbance in progress": "Hearing sounds of a disturbance, [the sheriff's deputy] reacted in self-defense after he encountered a 23-year-old man armed with a gun and after the deputy had identified himself as law enforcement."[9][15] The Sheriff's Office further said that the unnamed deputy had been put on "paid administrative leave".[15] Body camera footage of the shooting was later released by the Sheriff's Office on May 9, 2024.[6][10]

One of the family's attorneys stated that Fortson died due to officers knocking on the wrong door, and that while mistakes happen, good people own their mistakes. Benjamin Crump, who is also representing the family criticized the sheriff's initial account, given prior to the video being released.[14]

The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office announced on May 31, 2024 that it had fired Eddie Duran, the deputy who killed Fortson, after the agency's "administrative" internal investigation concluded that "Fortson did not make any hostile, attacking movements, and therefore, [deputy Duran's] use of deadly force was not objectively reasonable" and thus "violated agency policy".[8][7] This announcement was the first time Duran was publicly identified as the shooter.[7] The internal investigation concluded that "Fortson did not point the gun in [deputy Duran's] direction"; instead, Fortson's gun "was pointed at the ground sufficiently enough for [deputy Duran] to clearly see the rear face of the rear sight".[7] In an interview with investigators, Duran claimed: "I'm standing there thinking I'm about to get shot, I'm about to die … It is him or me at this point and I need to, I need to act as opposed to react".[16]

On August 23rd, 2024, ex-deputy Eddie Duran, 38, was arrested and charged with one count of manslaughter with a firearm in connection with the death of Roger Fortson.[17]

References

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  1. ^ a b Yousif, Nadine (May 9, 2024). "US airman shot and killed by police in Florida". BBC News. Archived from the original on May 9, 2024. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  2. ^ "Florida sheriff deputies burst into wrong apartment and fatally shot U.S. airman, attorney says". CBS News. May 9, 2024. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  3. ^ Stevens, Alexis (May 14, 2024). "Body of airman killed by Florida deputy returns to Atlanta". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The Associated Press. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  4. ^ Emerald Coast Funeral Home. "SrA Roger Fortson". Tribute Archive. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  5. ^ Jones, Dajhea; Winters, Akilah (June 3, 2024). "'That's not justice for me' – Family responds to termination of Florida deputy accused of fatally shooting Atlanta airman". WXIA. Associated Press. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d e f Novelly, Thomas (May 9, 2024). "Florida Airman Was Shot by Deputy Within Seconds of Opening Apartment Door, Body Cam Footage Shows". military.com. Archived from the original on May 9, 2024. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d Nichols, Kaila; Suarez, Carlos; Royal, Denise (May 31, 2024). "Florida deputy who shot airman in his home has been fired for using unreasonable deadly force, sheriff's office says". CNN. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
  8. ^ a b Romero, Dennis (June 1, 2024). "Florida deputy who fatally shot U.S. airman fired after sheriff's investigation". NBC News. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  9. ^ a b Novelly, Thomas (May 9, 2024). "'They Took My Gift Away': In Interview, Mother of Florida Airman Killed by Police Describes Shock". military.com. Archived from the original on May 9, 2024. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h Medina, Eduardo (May 9, 2024). "Sheriff Releases Body Camera Footage in Police Killing of Airman in His Home". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 10, 2024. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  11. ^ Lyden, Meleah (May 9, 2024). "Body camera video gives insight into moments leading up to Atlanta airman's shooting death by Florida deputies". 11Alive. Associated Press. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  12. ^ a b Sundby, Alex (May 9, 2024). "Florida sheriff's deputy seen fatally shooting U.S. airman in newly released body camera video". CBS News. Archived from the original on May 10, 2024. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  13. ^ a b c Daniels, Cheyenne (May 9, 2024). "Attorneys, family of slain airman demand transparency from police officers". The Hill. Archived from the original on May 10, 2024. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  14. ^ a b Griffith, Janelle (May 9, 2024). "Florida sheriff's office releases bodycam video of fatal shooting of Air Force airman by deputy". NBC News. Archived from the original on May 9, 2024. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  15. ^ a b Novelly, Thomas (May 7, 2024). "Special Operations Airman Shot and Killed by Florida Police During Disturbance in Apartment Building". military.com. Archived from the original on May 9, 2024. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  16. ^ Thanawala, Sudhin; Spencer, Terry (June 4, 2024). "Mother of airman killed by Florida deputy says his firing, alone, won't cut it". Associated Press. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  17. ^ "Fired sheriff's deputy charged in killing of airman acted reasonably, attorney says". NBC News. August 29, 2024. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
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