The fatal shooting of Roger Fortson by a Florida sheriff’s deputy when the Air Force senior airman opened his door armed with a handgun pointed down happened almost a month ago. But the information released so far by authorities hasn’t clarified why the officer was directed to his apartment.
FILE - This photo provided by the U.S. Air Force, shows Senior Airman Roger Fortson in a Dec. 24, 2019, photo. FILE - Chantemekki Fortson the mother of slain airman Roger Fortson, right, along with family watch Fortson’s casket as they leave for a cemetery during his funeral at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, Friday, May 17, 2024, in Stonecrest, Ga. FILE - This photo provided by the U.S. Air Force, shows Senior Airman Roger Fortson in a Dec. 24, 2019, photo.
She gave Fortson’s fourth-floor apartment as the location of the disturbance, but he was home alone. At the operator’s suggestion, the employee walked near Fortson’s unit and reported that she didn’t hear anything. Fortson lived alone and had no visitors at the time of the shooting. That has raised questions over whether the deputy was directed to the wrong apartment. County 911 dispatch records show deputies had never been called to his apartment before. However deputies had been called to another fourth-floor apartment 10 times in the previous eight months, including once for a family disturbance.
He then pounded on the door, but didn’t identify himself. He then moved to the side of the door, about 5 feet away . He waited 15 seconds before pounding on the door again. This time he yelled, “Sheriff’s office — open the door!” He again moved to the side. “He reacted in self defense after he encountered a 23-year old man armed with a gun and after the deputy had identified himself as law enforcement,” the statement said.
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