A mother whose son was killed by a Florida police officer is grieving his loss and seeking justice.
U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Roger Fortson, 23, was shot by an Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office deputy at his home in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, on May 3.
“He was trying to show me what the people who raised me should have shown me as a child,” Roger Fortson's mother, Chantemek Fortson, said at a news conference Thursday. ” he said. I want you to tell me the truth about my son, I want him to get his reputation right, if you have a heart, if you have nieces and nephews in your life, please tell me the truth about my son. ”
According to a statement released by the Oklahousa County Sheriff's Office, deputies in the fatal incident responded to a disturbance call around 4:30 p.m.
Sheriff Eric Eiden of the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office played body camera footage of the deputy who shot and killed Fortson during a press conference after meeting with Fortson's family. In the video, sheriff's deputies can be heard twice announcing that they are at the sheriff's office. Fortson is then seen opening the door for his deputy, holding what appears to be a gun. Officers shot and killed Fortson within seconds of the door opening. Fortson later died from his injuries, the sheriff's office said.
“After encountering a 23-year-old man with a gun, he heard a commotion and responded in self-defense,” the sheriff's office said in a statement.[This was] after the deputy identified himself as law enforcement. ”
The sheriff's office said the deputy involved has been placed on administrative leave, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and the state's attorney's office will conduct their own investigation.
On Thursday afternoon, Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said in an on-camera statement that Secretary Austin was closely monitoring the incident. “First of all, the Secretary is monitoring this closely. And we want to offer our thoughts and prayers to the Fortson Airman's family,” Ryder said. “Of course we are saddened by the loss of our own life. I understand that his death is currently under investigation.”
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump also attended Thursday's press conference with Fortson's family and spoke about Fortson's character.
“He graduated from high school in Atlanta, Georgia,” Crump said. “He had a dream of becoming a pilot. He always wanted to serve in the United States Air Force and was making that dream come true. And in doing so, he supported his mother, brother, and family. We were trying to make things better,” so they could have a chance to live the American dream. ”
Crump said Fortson was on the phone with his girlfriend when he heard a knock on the door. When I asked who he was, there was no answer and I couldn't see him through the peephole. Crump said he told his girlfriend it looked like someone was covering up on the other side.
Someone knocked hard on the door again, so Fortson retrieved his legal gun and ran back into the hallway, where officers burst through the door and shot him six times, Crump said.
FDLE confirmed to ABC News that it is investigating a deputy-involved shooting.
“FDLE's use-of-force cases are independent fact-finding investigations. Results will be referred to the State Attorney's Office to determine further action,” FDLE said in a statement to ABC News. “As this investigation is ongoing, we have no additional information to provide at this time.”
Fortson's family and attorney viewed body camera footage before the news conference.
Hulbert Field Air Force Base, where Fortson was stationed, said in a release about the shooting that Fortson was assigned to the 4th Special Operations Squadron and entered active duty on Nov. 19, 2019.
“The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office is the lead investigating agency in this case,” Hurlburt Field said in a statement. “To protect the integrity of the investigation, no other information will be released at this time. The 1st Special Operations Wing's priorities are to provide casualty response services to families and support the squadron during this tragic time.” and make resources available to everyone who is affected. ”
The state attorney's office and coroner's office immediately responded to ABC News' requests for comment.
