Bodycam video shows fatal shooting of Air Force Airman Roger Fortson by Okaloosa County deputy
By: A Florida sheriff's office released body camera video Thursday showing a sheriff's deputy shoot and kill a U.S. airman at his apartment last week while the deputy was responding to a disturbance call.
The video shows a deputy from the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office in the Florida panhandle knock on the door of Senior Airman Roger Fortson's apartment late Friday afternoon and announce he was with the sheriff's office. When the door opens, the deputy yells for Fortson, 23, to step back.
Attorney Ben Crump, who is representing Fortson's family, has said that Fortson got his legally owned gun after hearing knocking on his door and not hearing who was there. In a bodycam video released Thursday, the deputy initially knocks without announcing himself. About 30 seconds later, he knocks again, saying he's with the sheriff's office and to open the door. He knocks and announces himself approximately 10 seconds later. Within seconds of Fortson opening the door, the deputy shoots Fortson who is seen holding what appears to be a handgun at his side.
Fortson, who is blurred in the video, immediately falls to the ground. He's seen moving on the floor as the deputy tells him to drop his gun.
"It's over there," Fortson is heard on the video telling the deputy. "I don't have it."
The deputy tells Fortson to not move and then calls on his radio for emergency medical services before the video ends.
During a news conference, Okaloosa County Sheriff Eric Aden told reporters, "It pains me to show the video, but I know that you all need to see it."
Fortson's family said in a statement that it was troubling that the deputy fired multiple times so quickly.
"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. Crump's firm released a video of the call that appears to start after the shooting, showing the ceiling of Fortson's apartment.
"I can't breathe," Fortson says in the video while groaning.
No law enforcement officers are seen in the video, but some voices in the background of the video can be heard.
"Do not move," a voice shouts to Fortson. "Stop moving. Stop moving."
Fortson was shot six times, Crump's law firm said. As someone in the background counted how many gunshot wounds Fortson had, a voice says, "Yeah, he's shot up."