After Florida Sheriff Deputies reportedly burst into the wrong apartment, a U.S. Airman was killed.
CBS reports that law enforcement officials were reportedly responding to a disturbance at Senior Airman Roger Fortson‘s apartment complex. His girlfriend said he was not involved in the alleged disturbance.
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How Was The Airman Killed?
Attorney Ben Crump spoke during a news conference in Fort Walton Beach on Thursday (May 9). Furthermore, he was accompanied by the victim’s family. Crump recounted the details that Roger’s girlfriend, who was on FaceTime with him, shared.
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The 23-year-old reportedly heard a knock at the door; however, no one responded when he asked who was there. Next, the attorney said he looked through the peephole, but “it was as if someone was covering up the peephole so he couldn’t see out of it.” Roger repeatedly asked who was there but received no answer.
After the airman didn’t answer the door, there was a second knock, but it was more aggressive this time. Roger’s girlfriend stated that he was concerned for his safety. He retrieved his gun, which Crump stated was “legally registered.” As he walked back to the door through his living room, law enforcement charged through the door and shot him after seeing that he was holding a gun.
The attorney says Forston was lying on the ground, saying, “I can’t breathe.” The victim’s mother, standing beside Crump at a press conference, stated the police said, “Oh yeah, he shot up” after viewing his body. She burst into tears as she held a framed photograph of her son. “My baby was shot up,” she cried.
Crump said, “He was shot six times.”
The Attorney’s Request
Additionally, Forston’s girlfriend contends he wasn’t causing a disturbance. The serviceman was at his apartment, Chez Elan Apartments, roughly five miles from his air base — Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field.
“We are calling for transparency in the investigation into Roger’s death and the immediate release of body cam video to the family,” Crump said. “His family and the public deserve to know what occurred in the moments leading up to this tragedy.”
