Police Mistake Results in the Death of U.S. Airman

When we call the police to inspect a disturbance call, we don’t exactly expect them to arrive with guns drawn. Unfortunately, this is precisely what happened in Fort Walton Beach, where police resulted in the death of a U.S. Airman.

On May 3rd, 2024, Senior Airman Roger Fortson (23) was in his off-base apartment in Fort Walton Beach before the shooting occurred. According to police, they intended to respond to a disturbance reported in apartment 1401, which was not Roger’s apartment. 

Due to the misconception, officers ended up at Roger’s apartment. After aggressively knocking a few times, the door opened. Out of fear and self-defense, Roger grabbed his gun as he was unaware of the police officer’s presence. 

When the door opened, police officers saw Roger’s gun and shot him multiple times in the chest. As he dropped to the ground, Roger recoiled in pain, and the officer continued to yell orders at him. Tragically, Fortson succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. 

Death of U.S. Airman Captured on Facetime

In addition to the footage released by law enforcement, Fortson’s girlfriend and lawyer offered a few integral pieces of information. One of the most important was Facetime footage Fortson’s phone recorded during the incident. 

According to Fortson’s family and lawyer, he was on Facetime with his girlfriend for a long while before police officers arrived on the scene. His apartment was empty, indicating he couldn’t have been involved in the disturbance reported to 911.

Likewise, they claim that police officers had aggressively knocked on Fortson’s door without calling out their identity. Out of fear of facing a possible intruder, Fortson called out, asking who was at his door. After receiving no response, he grabbed his weapon in self-defense. Then, as shown in the bodycam footage, Fortson was immediately shot when he opened his door. 

After the police bodycam footage ends, the submitted Facetime footage continues. According to most sources, the footage shows the ceiling of the apartment. 

From outside the frame, Roger calls out, “I can’t breathe.” 

In response to his cries for help, the officer responds, “Do not move! Stop moving!” All the while, the officer keeps his gun trained on Fortson. 

Responses to the Death of a U.S. Airman

In response to the death of the U.S. airman, many statements have been made publicly. Firstly, he notes that it is troubling to see the police fire multiple times so quickly without giving a verbal demand to drop his weapon first. Likewise, he also stated that details such as repeated knocking without identification and investigating the wrong apartment also raised eyebrows. 

Law enforcement has remained relatively neutral or silent about these comments. According to recent statements by the Sheriff’s Department, they ask for the community’s patience and understanding as they work through a formal investigation. In a press conference, Sheriff Eric Aden claimed that “no determination has been made as to whether the deputy’s actions were justified or not.” 

While it is somewhat comforting to see that law enforcement is formally investigating the responding officers, most people, including Fortson’s lawyer, want more transparency about the situation. 

Second Amendment Rights 

Another important thing that Fortson’s lawyer brought up is the Second Amendment. In his statement, “The second amendment afforded Roger the right to own a gun and yield it as protection when he was unsure who was on the other side of his door. This officer needs to be investigated and held accountable for the execution of Roger. We will not rest until there is justice for Roger and his family.”

Everyone deserves the right to feel safe, and it is constitutionally protected to ensure safety by yielding a weapon for protection. According to Fortson’s lawyer, it is clear that Fortson was afraid and had no idea who was at his door. 

Conclusion

The death of a U.S. airman that occurred at Fort Walton Beach was tragic. Through a perfect storm of miscommunication, misunderstanding, and likely hasty police work, an innocent airman was lethally injured. 

In the aftermath, parties still collect information and finalize formal reports and investigations. Many also draw similarities between this tragedy and the many others due to police mistakes. With that said, one thing remains clear: Fortson’s lawyer and family want justice for the loss of their loved one.