U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Roger Fortson shot and killed during officer-involved shooting in Okaloosa County

Update: “According to a witness who was on Facetime with Roger during the entire encounter, Roger was alone in his apartment when he heard a knock at the door. He asked, “Who is it?” but didn’t get a response. A few minutes later, there was a very aggressive knock on the door, but Roger didn’t see anyone when he looked out the peephole. Concerned, he did what any other law-abiding citizen would do and retrieved his legally-owned gun, but as he was walking back to the living room, police burst through the door. When they saw the gun, they shot Roger six times. The witness said that she saw Roger on the ground stating, “I can’t breathe,” after he was shot. She has also said the police were in the wrong apartment as there was no disturbance in the apartment and he was alone.

He was later taken to the hospital where he died. Few details have been provided by law enforcement.

Roger enlisted in the military after graduating from high school with honors and had no criminal record. By all accounts, he was a stellar member of the Air Force and loved by his community.

Attorney Crump issued the following statement:

“The circumstances surrounding Roger’s death raise serious questions that demand immediate answers from authorities, especially considering the alarming witness statement that the police entered the wrong apartment. The narrative released by law enforcement, which falsely suggests that Roger posed a threat, is deeply troubling and inconsistent with the details provided by that witness: Roger was home alone, causing no disturbance, when his life was tragically cut short by law enforcement.

“We are calling for transparency in the investigation into Roger’s death and the immediate release of body cam video to the family. His family and the public deserve to know what occurred in the moments leading up to this tragedy. We urge authorities to immediately stop demonizing Roger in their statements to the media. It’s imperative to correct the record and acknowledge the wrongful entry into Roger’s home. What we know for sure is that Roger was a dedicated U.S. Airman serving the country and a cherished member of his community. Any attempts to tarnish his character only compound the pain felt by his loved ones.

“We demand justice for Roger Fortson. We demand accountability for those responsible for his death. And we stand in solidarity with Roger’s family and friends as they navigate this unimaginable loss.”

Original Report:

The 23-year-old man fatally shot in Friday’s officer-involved shooting in Okaloosa County has been identified as U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Roger Fortson.

Hurlburt Field has confirmed that Fortson was a member of the 4th Special Operations Squadron and commenced active duty on November 19, 2019.

“The 1st Special Operations Wing’s primary concerns are offering casualty affairs support to the family, extending assistance to the squadron amidst this tragic event, and ensuring that resources are accessible for all affected individuals,” stated Hurlburt Field in a release.

The incident occurred on Friday afternoon at an apartment complex located at 319 Racetrack Road.

As per an official statement, the deputy present at the scene responded in self-defense upon hearing signs of a disturbance and encountering the 23-year-old individual, who was purportedly armed with a firearm.

According to the sheriff’s office, this action took place subsequent to the deputy identifying himself as law enforcement.

Fortson was transported to the hospital but unfortunately passed away due to his injuries.

No deputies sustained any injuries during the incident.

Following standard protocol, the deputy involved has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of a formal investigation and administrative review.