FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. — The family of an Atlanta Air Force airman killed by sheriff's deputies in Florida gathered for an emotional conference on Thursday in an attempt to reframe his life and legacy.
Senior Airman Roger Fortson, a 23-year-old U.S. service member, was fatally shot on May 3 after the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office claimed a deputy responding to a call about a disturbance in progress "reacted in self-defense after he encountered a 23-year-old man armed with a gun."
11Alive confirmed Wednesday night from attorneys that Fortson was from Atlanta and graduated from McNair High School in DeKalb County. Following graduation, Fortson enlisted in the Air Force, where he was based at the Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field -- right near Fort Walton Beach.
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump joined the family along with fellow Florida attorney Brian Barr.
You can watch the full conference in the video below:
"My baby was my everything" - A mother's words
During the press conference on Thursday, Fortson's mother, Mica, fought back tears as she described her son as "a gift."
"Where we come from, you don't end up where Roger ended up," she said about her son's journey to the Air Force.
Fortson would go on to be described as someone who was kind, intelligent, humble, and passionate, as well as a figure of inspiration in his family's life.
"My child taught us how to love, how to forgive," Mica added.
The young airman was also described by Crump as someone who was "going to make it better for his mother, his siblings, and his family, so they could have a chance at the American dream."
"Roger Fortson was the best America had to offer. He was a patriot... He was fighting for our way of life," Crump said.
What the family's lawyers say
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump said in a statement that Fortson was on a FaceTime call with a woman at the time of the encounter.
According to Crump, the woman, whom Crump didn’t identify, said Fortson was alone in his apartment when he heard a knock at the door. He asked who was there but didn’t get a response. A few minutes later, Fortson heard a louder knock but didn’t see anyone when he looked through the peephole, Crump said, citing the woman’s account.
The woman said Fortson was concerned and went to retrieve his gun, which Crump said was legally owned.
As Fortson walked back through his living room, deputies burst through the door, saw that Fortson was armed and shot him six times, according to Crump’s statement. The woman said Fortson was on the ground, saying, “I can’t breathe,” after he was shot, Crump said.
Fortson died at a hospital, officials said. The deputy involved in the shooting was placed on administrative leave pending an investigation.
The woman said Fortson wasn’t causing a disturbance during their FaceTime call and believes that the deputies must have had the wrong apartment, Crump’s statement said.
In the conference on Thursday, Crump noted, "For whatever reason, they thought he was a bad guy, but he was a good guy... they killed a good guy."
What the sheriff's office says
The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement last week that a deputy responding to a call of a disturbance in progress at the apartment complex reacted in self-defense after encountering an armed man. The office did not offer details on what kind of disturbance deputies were responding to or who called them.
On Thursday, members of the sheriff's office held their own announcement and played footage from the deputy's bodycam video, where it appeared a witness told the responding deputy that it sounded as if a domestic dispute with arguing and yelling was unfolding inside a unit.
***The sheriff's office provided an edited version of the body camera video. Viewer discretion is advised when viewing the graphic content.***
Beforehand, Sheriff Eric Aden noted he had met with Fortson's family regarding the tragedy. He also argued that the narrative that the deputy had the wrong apartment and simply burst through the door was inaccurate.
In the bodycam video, the deputy can be seen knocking on Fortson's door multiple times, announcing himself as part of the Sheriff's Office, and eventually firing at Fortson after the door opens, demanding he "drop the gun."
Aden noted, "While it might be difficult to see, there are many questions the investigation must answer before determining if the deputy's actions were justified."
Officials said earlier this week that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the local State Attorney’s Office will investigate the shooting.
Sheriff Aden also stated that he told Fortson's family, "They have my word if this shooting is found to be unjustified, their son's name will be fully vindicated, and justice will be served."