ATLANTA, Georgia (Atlanta News First) – The family of Senior Airman Roger Fortson, who was shot and killed by a Florida deputy, spoke out Thursday.
Fortson, a 23-year-old active duty airman from DeKalb County, died at his off-base residence, the U.S. Air Force said.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Military reports: DeKalb County airman in Florida shot by deputy sheriff
A bodycam video released by the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office shows the interaction between the deputy and Fortson.
The family and attorney of 23-year-old pilot Roger Fortson are demanding transparency, while the Okaloosa County sheriff says they are being transparent.
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who represents Fortson's family, believes police responded to the 911 call and entered the wrong unit and “used excessive force to execute him.”
The sheriff's office claims the deputy “acted in self-defense when he encountered a 23-year-old man armed with a weapon.”
“As long as they [the sheriff’s office] “They continue to claim they went to the right apartment, but they are tarnishing his reputation because Roger had no domestic conflicts. Roger had no criminal history. Roger was never accused of domestic violence,” Crump said Thursday at a press conference with Fortson's family.
Crump said Fortson was on a Facetime conversation with a woman at the time of the encounter. According to Crump, the woman on the phone said Fortson was alone in his apartment when he heard a knock on the door. He asked who was there but got no answer. A few minutes later, Fortson heard a louder knock but saw no one when he looked through the peephole, Crump said, citing the woman's statement.
The woman said Fortson was concerned and wanted to get his gun back, which was legally his.
“As Fortson walked back through his living room, officers burst through the door, saw that Fortson was armed, and shot him six times,” Crump said in a statement. “The woman said Fortson was on the floor saying, 'I can't breathe,' after he was shot.”
“There is no one better than him,” said Fortson's mother, Meka Fortson. “Roger was light. His name will not be tarnished. He will not rest in darkness because he was light.”
“Tell the truth and get justice for my child,” she added.
CHECK OUT THE FAMILY'S FULL NOTES:
“At this time, we humbly ask our community for patience as we try to understand the facts that led to this tragic event,” Okaloosa County Sheriff Eric Aden said in a statement after the shooting.
Fortson's remains were returned to his Atlanta home on Tuesday. Funeral services are scheduled for Friday at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Stonecrest.
As of Thursday afternoon, the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office had not responded to the family's press conference.
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