Florida Deputy Releases Bodycam Footage of Fatal Shooting of Black Airman
Update:
CNN Report
What the bodycam footage shows
A Florida sheriff has released bodycam footage from a deputy who fatally shot a Black airman in his home. The footage was presented in a press conference held by Okaloosa County Sheriff Eric Aden. The release of the footage comes in response to claims from the victim’s family that the deputy had gone to the wrong apartment. The family believes that the victim’s girlfriend was FaceTiming with him at the time and that the deputy was at the wrong unit.
Victim identified
According to attorney Ben Crump, the victim has been identified as Roger Fortson, an active-duty senior airman. Crump, who is representing the family, described Fortson as a patriot who respected authority and had aspirations to provide a new home for his mother and younger siblings.
Investigation
Following the shooting, Sheriff Aden requested the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Division to handle the criminal investigation, as required. The investigation is currently ongoing, and no determination has been made regarding the deputy’s actions and whether they were justified. The deputy involved in the shooting has been placed on administrative leave.
“Deputy did announce himself”
Sheriff Aden, referencing the bodycam footage, stated that the deputy did announce himself, not once but twice. Fortson’s comments on the footage indicated that he acknowledged it was law enforcement at the door. The deputy knocked on the correct door, and the view through the peephole was not obstructed. The sheriff disputed the family’s claim that the authorities had gone to the wrong door.
Familial beliefs
The family, however, insisted that authorities had gone to the wrong door. In a statement issued after the footage’s release, Fortson’s family maintained their belief that the police had the wrong apartment. They claim that Fortson was on a call with his girlfriend, and there was no disturbance at the time. Fortson was alone in the apartment with his dog, according to his girlfriend.
Previous incidents
This incident is reminiscent of other shooting cases in recent years, where a Black individual was killed by law enforcement in their own homes. The shooting of Botham Jean by a former Dallas police officer while he was in his apartment and Atatiana Jefferson’s death when a Fort Worth officer shot her through her bedroom window are examples of such cases.
Investigation continues
The investigation into the shooting will continue, with the bodycam footage providing key evidence. The release of the footage has sparked demands from Fortson’s family for authorities to tell the truth and address any potential mishandling of the incident. The family seeks to ensure that Fortson’s reputation is remembered accurately.
