Florida deputies who fatally shot US airman burst into wrong apartment

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Roger Fortson, 23, was identified as the young man shot dead in a shooting last Friday afternoon

Deputies responding to a disturbance call mistakenly entered the wrong apartment at a Florida complex, resulting in the fatal shooting of Senior Airman Roger Fortson, 23, who served at Hurlburt Field's Special Operations Wing. Fortson was alone and armed when deputies shot him, according to a statement from civil rights attorney Ben Crump.

The black airman (pictured) was killed in his Florida apartment after police forced their way into the wrong apartment and shot him as his horrified friend watched on FaceTime

Crump relayed an account from a woman who was on a Facetime call with Fortson at the time. She reported that Fortson, upon hearing knocks at his door and receiving no response to his inquiries, retrieved his legally owned gun out of concern. As he walked back through his apartment, deputies forcefully entered, encountered Fortson armed, and fired six shots, causing his death.

Fortson (pictured on the left) was assigned to the 4th Special Operations Squadron as a special missions aviator after entering active duty on Nov. 19, 2019

Fortson's family and Crump are seeking transparency in the investigation, especially given the assertion that law enforcement entered the wrong apartment. The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, while expressing sadness over the incident, has yet to provide further details. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the local State Attorney’s Office are handling the investigation.

he terrible incident took place at Fortson's off-base residence - an apartment complex on 319 Racetrack Road in Okaloosa County, Florida

Fortson's tragic death is part of a broader pattern of Black individuals killed by police, often in mistaken address situations, drawing comparisons to cases like Botham Jean and Atatiana Jefferson. Crump, known for his advocacy in such cases, aims to highlight the value of Black lives through legal action and accountability efforts.

Fort Walton Beach, where the incident occurred, is situated in the Florida Panhandle between Panama City Beach and Pensacola.