Airman, ATL Native Killed By FL Deputy Responding To Disturbance Call

EAST ATLANTA, GA — An airman, originally from Atlanta, was shot and killed by a Florida deputy in his home last week while the deputy was responding to a call, attorneys say.

The airman was identified as Senior Airman Roger Fortson, 23, according to civil rights Attorney Ben Crump, who is representing Fortson's family.

Crump's office said Fortson was shot six times by a deputy who entered the wrong apartment before later being pronounced dead.

The deputy was responding to a disturbance call, but a witness who was on Facetime with Fortson said the late airman was alone in his home, Crump's office said.

"Roger Fortson was the best America had to offer," Crump said at a Thursday morning news conference. "He was a patriot. He was a U.S. airman, special ops. He was fighting for our way of life."

The news conference was held to demand transparency and the release of body cam footage, Crump's office said.

Crump said Fortson graduated from an Atlanta area high school and dreamt of being a pilot. Serving in the Air Force was a part of that dream, Crump said.

11Alive reported Fortson graduated from McNair High School in East Atlanta.

The fatal shooting happened late Friday afternoon when an Okaloosa County deputy was responding to the disturbance call.

Okaloosa County Sheriff Eric Aden said Wednesday the deputy encountered a man who was accused of being armed. This man was later identified as Fortson.

The deputy shot Fortson, who later died of his injuries at a hospital, Aden said.

RELATED: FL Deputy Who Killed Airman At Home Entered Wrong Apartment: Attorney

Aden immediately placed the deputy on administrative leave, the sheriff said, adding the Florida Department of Law Enforcement was asked to investigate the shooting.

"All of us at the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office are saddened about the fatal officer-involved shooting over the weekend," Aden said in a Facebook post. "At this time, we humbly ask for our community’s patience as we work to understand the facts that resulted in this tragic event."

A witness was on Facetime with Fortson, who was alone in his apartment, during the entire encounter, according to a news release from Crump's office.

After a hearing a knock at the door, the release said Fortson asked who was at his door. He did not get a response, the release said.

A few minutes passed by, and then came a more aggressive knock, the release said. Upon looking out of the peephole, the release said Fortson did not see anyone.

"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 has said that she saw Roger on the ground stating, 'I can’t breathe,' after he was shot," read the release.

The female witness said the police had entered the wrong apartment because no disturbance existed in Fortson's apartment, the release said.

"Few details have been provided by law enforcement," Crump's office said.

Aden said the State Attorney’s Office will conduct an independent review of the case.

Fortson graduated from high school with honors before enlisting in the Air Force, Crump's office said. He had no criminal record and was a "stellar member of the Air Force and loved by his community," Crump's office said.