In a recent development, the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office in Florida released body camera footage on Thursday, revealing the fatal shooting of a U.S. airman by a sheriff's deputy.
The incident occurred last week when the deputy responded to a disturbance call at the airman's apartment.
The video shows a deputy knocking on the door of Senior Airman Roger Fortson's apartment late Friday afternoon, announcing his affiliation with the sheriff's office. Upon opening the door, Fortson, 23, was commanded to step back by the deputy.
Ben Crump, the attorney representing Fortson's family, stated that Fortson had retrieved his legally owned firearm after hearing a knock at his door without any identification of the visitor. The bodycam footage released on Thursday shows the deputy initially knocking without announcing himself. Approximately 30 seconds later, he knocks again, this time identifying himself as a member of the sheriff's office and instructing the resident to open the door.
Within seconds of Fortson opening the door, the deputy shoots him. Fortson, seen holding what appears to be a handgun at his side, immediately collapses. As he writhes on the floor, the deputy orders him to drop his gun.
"It's over there," Fortson is heard telling the deputy in the video. "I don't have it."
The deputy then instructs Fortson not to move and calls for emergency medical services via his radio before the video concludes.
At a press conference, Okaloosa County Sheriff Eric Aden expressed his discomfort at showing the video but acknowledged the necessity of its release.
Fortson's family issued a statement expressing their concern over the rapidity with which the deputy fired multiple shots.
"The video has provided some answers, but it's also raised even more troubling questions," the family said. "As the officer didn't tell Roger to drop the weapon before shooting, was the officer trained to give verbal warnings? Did the officer try to initiate life-saving measures? Was the officer trained to deal with law-abiding citizens who are registered gun owners?"
During the incident, Fortson was on a FaceTime call with his girlfriend. A video of the call, released by Crump's firm, appears to start after the shooting, showing the ceiling of Fortson's apartment.
"I can't breathe," Fortson is heard saying in the video, accompanied by groans.
No law enforcement officers are visible in the video, but voices can be heard in the background.
"Do not move," a voice commands Fortson. "Stop moving. Stop moving."
According to Crump's law firm, Fortson was shot six times. As someone in the background counts the gunshot wounds, a voice comments, "Yeah, he's shot up."
Sheriff Aden did not entertain any questions during the afternoon press conference. The deputy involved in the shooting, who remains unidentified, has been placed on administrative leave. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the state attorney's office are currently investigating the incident.
"These investigations take time, but I want to assure you that we are not hiding, covering up or taking action that would result in a rush to judgment of Mr. Fortson or our deputy," Aden said.
Earlier on Thursday, Crump stated during a press conference that Fortson was on a FaceTime call with his girlfriend when he heard knocking on his door, saw no one through the peephole, and retrieved his gun.
Crump initially stated that the deputy entered Fortson's apartment, saw him with his gun, and shot him. However, the family's statement following the release of the bodycam footage suggests that the girlfriend believed the door was forced open by the deputy. The footage shown during Aden's press conference depicts the deputy firing several shots in an exterior hallway outside Fortson's apartment.
"We remain adamant that the police had the wrong apartment as Roger was on the phone with his girlfriend for a substantial amount of time leading up to the shooting, and no one else was in the apartment," the family said.
Fortson's mother, Chantemekki Fortson, told reporters that her son's girlfriend was devastated by the shooting.
"She literally watched them walk over him as he was dying, taking his last breath," Fortson said.
Crump did not identify the girlfriend but mentioned that she has legal representation.
"She was afraid that she just heard them and watched them kill her boyfriend," Crump told reporters.
The sheriff's office stated on Saturday that the deputy was responding to a disturbance call, "made contact with an armed individual at an apartment" and acted in self-defense. In an updated statement on Tuesday, Sheriff Eric Aden said the deputy "encountered an armed man" and shot him.
"All of us at the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office are saddened about the fatal officer-involved shooting over the weekend," Aden said.
During his press conference, Aden mentioned that he had met with Fortson's family and extended his condolences.
"This result is one we never hope to encounter," the sheriff said.
Crump stated that the family was planning to view the bodycam footage on Thursday afternoon. The family has called for the footage to be released to the public and for the sheriff's office to correct their statements about the shooting.
"Do the right thing and correct this narrative," Crump said. "Correct this narrative and don't put a stain on the name of this young man ... Do not try to put a stain on his name, on his life, on his legacy."
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