Deputies who shot US airman to death burst into wrong apartment, lawyer Ben Crump says

FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. (WEAR/TND) — Last Friday's shooting in the Florida panhandle that killed a senior airman with the U.S. Air Force reportedly happened after deputies responding to a disturbance call at the apartment complex burst into the wrong unit.

That's what prominent civil rights lawyer Ben Crump claims.

The family of 23-year-old Roger Fortson hired Crump on Wednesday and he's asking for bodycam video.

Dispatch calls released to WEAR revealed Okaloosa County deputies reported shooting Fortson within six minutes of dispatch getting the disturbance call.

The sheriff's office said a deputy acted in self-defense after hearing sounds of a disturbance inside Fortson's off-base apartment, and that Fortson was believed to be armed with a gun after the deputy identified himself as law enforcement.

Dispatch calls revealed deputies thought Fortson was shot six times:

According to Crump, witnesses said Fortson was alone in his apartment when he heard a knock on the door and asked, "Who is it?" but didn't get a response. A few minutes later, there was an aggressive knock on the door, but Fortson didn't see anyone on the other side.

Crump wrote that Fortson grabbed his "legally-owned" gun and was shot as he was walking back to the living room, as deputies burst through the door.

According to Crump, witnesses said deputies were in the wrong apartment. He's asking for bodycam video to be released right away.

So is the president of Okaloosa NAACP.

"I'm just concerned as to what happened and why it happened and how it happened," Sabu Williams said. "We're going to remain engaged in the outcome in the investigation."

"This one tells me there may be more to it than meets the eye right now," he added.

Williams said the video should give the public insight on what happened.

"We certainly share our grievances not only with family, but co-workers and friends in the community," he said. "We've spoken with base commanders and our community and the sheriff's office."

Fortson entered active duty in 2019. He was assigned to the 4th Special Operations Squadron and stationed at Hurlburt Field.

The sheriff's office announced the deputy involved was immediately placed on administrative leave and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement has taken over the investigation. Plus, the State Attorney's Office will conduct its own review.

And among the questions that remain: What led deputies to Fortson's home in the first place?

This is Crump's full statement on the incident:

"The circumstances surrounding Roger's death raise serious questions that demand immediate answers from authorities, especially considering the alarming witness statement that the police entered the wrong apartment. The narrative released by law enforcement, which falsely suggests that Roger posed a threat, is deeply troubling and inconsistent with the details provided by that witness: Roger was home alone, causing no disturbance, when his life was tragically cut short by law enforcement. We are calling for transparency in the investigation into Roger's death and the immediate release of body cam video to the family. His family and the public deserve to know what occurred in the moments leading up to this tragedy. We urge authorities to immediately stop demonizing Roger in their statements to the media. It's imperative to correct the record and acknowledge the wrongful entry into Roger's home. What we know for sure is that Roger was a dedicated U.S. Airman serving the country and a cherished member of his community. Any attempts to tarnish his character only compound the pain felt by his loved ones. We demand justice for Roger Fortson. We demand accountability for those responsible for his death. And we stand in solidarity with Roger's family and friends as they navigate this unimaginable loss."

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7uLbAnKuvZpOkunC6xLCqaKaRqbawuoywpquklGSzrbvRopuaZZSavbbAyJ6qZqqfnLKzecWoqa2rn6N6tLTOrWSuq12WtrO5wKdknaGjqcKzrsCnmp5llJqutbSMm6yrq6RixLO7zaBkmqiRp8Gusc2tZKWZp66ys3nBnqVmm6KqurF5zZqYnKhdlr%2BuscNmnq6mXaS4orjOqKqaZZOkwq%2FA2GabnqiRp8Gusc2tZKWZp2Kyr7LOq5qepZWjwW601Kujm62iqXqntcSlm2aen6fBbsPApauopl2XsqKvxw%3D%3D