Ben Crump Demands Transparency in Investigation of Police Shooting of Black Air Force Member in Florida Apartment

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump is set to hold a press conference alongside the family of Senior Airman Roger Fortson, a 23-year-old Black US Air Force member who was shot dead by police at his off-base apartment in Florida last week. Crump claims that Okaloosa County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a disturbance call at Fortson’s apartment complex and fatally shot him when they entered the wrong unit and saw he was carrying a legally held firearm. Fortson’s friend, who was on a FaceTime call with him at the time, reportedly said he heard a knock at the door, but no one spoke when he asked who it was. After leaving his phone to retrieve his weapon, Fortson was allegedly confronted by deputies, who shot him six times as he lay on the floor, gasping for breath. Fortson’s death has drawn comparisons to other Black individuals who have lost their lives in similar circumstances, such as Botham Jean and Atatiana Jefferson, who were both killed by police in their homes. Crump, who has previously represented families in cases involving the deaths of Trayvon Martin, Breonna Taylor, Tyre Nichols, and George Floyd, has called for transparency in the investigation and the disclosure of body camera footage. Sheriff Eric Aden expressed sympathy for the situation, but declined to comment further, stating that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the local State Attorney’s Office would take over the investigation. FDLE spokesperson Gretl Plessinger stated that it is unlikely they will make any further comments until the investigation has concluded. Fortson served with the 4th Special Operations Squadron as a special missions aviator and played a crucial role in loading the gunship’s weapons during missions. Fort Walton Beach is located between Panama City Beach and Pensacola in the Florida Panhandle. AP reporters Curt Anderson and Aaron Morrison contributed to this report.