Incident Overview
On May 3, Senior Airman Roger Fortson, a 23-year-old U.S. Air Force airman, was fatally shot by a deputy in his apartment. The deputy, responding to a disturbance call, entered the wrong unit, mistaking Fortson for an armed individual causing a disturbance.
Civil rights attorney , representing Fortson's family, and a witness on a Facetime call with Fortson at the time of the incident, claim Fortson was alone, unarmed, and did not pose a threat. They insist the deputies had the wrong address and demand transparency, including the release of body camera footage.
Responses and Investigations
The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office has placed the involved deputy on administrative leave and initiated an investigation, with the and the State Attorney’s Office conducting a review. Sheriff Eric Aden expressed condolences but urged patience as they seek to understand the "tragic event."
Crump and Fortson's family allege the shooting was unjustifiable and a violation of Fortson's constitutional rights. They accuse the sheriff's office of providing a narrative that unfairly paints Fortson as a threat and demand accountability and truth from the authorities.
