Air Force Airman Shot and Killed by Deputies in Florida: Wrong Apartment, Deadly Consequences

Fort Walton Beach, Florida United States of America
A woman on a FaceTime call with Fortson during the incident stated that there was no disturbance and that Fortson was alone at the time of the shooting.
Body camera footage from the deputies involved in the shooting has not been released to the public.
Deputies forced their way into Fortson's apartment without identification or announcement.
Deputies from the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office responded to a disturbance call but ended up at the wrong apartment.
Fortson retrieved his legally-owned gun in response to the intrusion, but was shot six times before he could react.
Fortson was alone in his apartment during this time and was unaware of any disturbance or police presence.
Senior Airman Roger Fortson was shot and killed by deputies in Okaloosa County, Florida on May 9, 2024.
Air Force Airman Shot and Killed by Deputies in Florida: Wrong Apartment, Deadly Consequences

An Air Force airman, identified as Senior Airman Roger Fortson, was tragically killed in his apartment in Okaloosa County, Florida on May 9, 2024. According to various reports and statements from Fortson's attorney Ben Crump and witnesses, the incident occurred when deputies from the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office responded to a disturbance call but ended up at the wrong apartment. Fortson was alone in his apartment during this time and was unaware of any disturbance or police presence.

Upon arrival at what they believed to be the correct apartment, deputies reportedly heard noises and forced their way inside without identification or announcement. Fortson, who was in his living room at the time, retrieved his legally-owned gun in response to the intrusion. However, before he could react or engage with the deputies, they burst into his apartment and shot him six times.

A woman who was on a FaceTime call with Fortson during the incident stated that there was no disturbance and that Fortson was alone in his apartment at the time of the shooting. Crump also noted that body camera footage from the deputies involved in the shooting has not been released to the public.

The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office confirmed that a deputy was involved in a fatal shooting on May 9, but they have yet to release any further details about the incident or identify the deputy involved. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is currently investigating the shooting at the request of the sheriff's department.

Fortson, who was assigned to Hurlburt Field and belonged to the 4th Special Operations Squadron, entered active duty on November 19, 2019. The base expressed its condolences and support for Fortson's family during this difficult time.

This tragic incident raises important questions about the use of force by law enforcement officers and the importance of accurate information in emergency response situations. It is crucial that all parties involved are transparent about the facts surrounding this shooting to ensure a fair and thorough investigation.


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Confidence

85%

Doubts
  • Did Fortson pose an imminent threat to the deputies before being shot?
  • Was there really a disturbance call that led deputies to the wrong apartment?
  • Why hasn't body camera footage been released?

Sources

98%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Deputy fatally shot Black airman after entering wrong apartment, lawyer says

The Fixing Site: A Summary of the Article. Kelsey Ables Thursday, 09 May 2024 07:20
  • Unique Points
    • The incident occurred in Fortson's apartment.
    • Fortson was alone in his apartment during the incident.
    • The shooting resulted from authorities entering the wrong apartment.
  • Accuracy
    • A Florida deputy fatally shot Senior Airman Roger Fortson last week.
    • Roger Fortson was alone in his apartment during the incident.
    • Deputy burst into Fortson’s apartment without identification or announcement, shooting him six times.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

84%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Civil rights attorney raises questions in fatal Okaloosa County officer-involved shooting

WEAR TV Tanner Stewart Thursday, 09 May 2024 12:57
  • Unique Points
    • Civil rights attorney Ben Crump hired by Roger Fortson's family
    • Roger Fortson was allegedly alone in his apartment and didn't respond when someone knocked on the door.
    • Deputies were in the wrong apartment.
  • Accuracy
    • Roger Fortson was allegedly armed with a gun when the deputy identified himself as law enforcement.
    • Okaloosa County deputies arrived at Roger Fortson’s apartment six minutes after receiving a call, reporting shooting him after hearing sounds of a disturbance inside.
    • Dispatch calls suggest Roger Fortson sustained multiple gunshot wounds to the chest and there was one exit wound.
  • Deception (50%)
    The article contains selective reporting as it only reports details that support the civil rights attorney's position and omits information that may contradict it. For instance, the article does not mention any evidence of a disturbance or threat before the shooting, but dispatch calls reveal deputies believed they heard sounds of a disturbance inside Fortson's apartment. Additionally, there is emotional manipulation through the use of phrases like 'alarming witness statement,' 'troubling and inconsistent with the details provided by that witness,' and 'demand immediate answers from authorities.' The article also contains sensationalism through phrases like 'wrongful entry into Roger's home' and 'demands justice for Roger Fortson.' Lastly, there is a lie by omission as the article fails to mention that witnesses reported seeing Fortson with a gun before deputies entered his 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:
    • What we know for sure is that Roger was a dedicated U.S. Airman serving the country and a cherished member of his community.
    • We are calling for transparency in the investigation into Roger’s death and the immediate release of body cam video to the family.
  • Fallacies (85%)
    The article contains an appeal to authority and inflammatory rhetoric. It also presents a dichotomous depiction of the events surrounding the shooting. However, no formal fallacies were identified.
    • Nationally renowned civil rights attorney Ben Crump was retained by the Fortson family.
  • Bias (95%)
    The author, Tanner Stewart, presents information from both sides of the incident without clear bias. However, the author does use language that could be perceived as depicting one side (the Fortson family and their attorney) as seeking transparency and accountability in contrast to the law enforcement's initial narrative. This is not an egregious example of bias but it does lean slightly towards the Fortson family's perspective.
    • We are calling for transparency in the investigation into Roger’s death and the immediate release of body cam video to the family.
      • witnesses say deputies were in the wrong apartment.
      • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication

      95%

      The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
      (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

      A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

      Lawyer: Deputy who fatally shot Florida airman had wrong apartment

      Air Force Times Courtney Thursday, 09 May 2024 00:30
      • Unique Points
        • Deputy burst into Fortson’s apartment without identification or announcement, shooting him six times.
        • Fortson was home alone and causing no trouble when the deputy arrived responding to a disturbance call with the wrong address.
      • Accuracy
        No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
      • Deception (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Fallacies (75%)
        The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy in the description of Fortson's family attorney, Ben Crump. The author describes Crump as a 'well-known civil rights attorney who has represented families in high-profile cases involving Black people killed by law enforcement', which is intended to lend credibility to the family's account of the incident. Additionally, there is an example of a dichotomous depiction in the description of Fortson's actions: 'Concerned, he did what any other law-abiding citizen would do and retrieved his legally-owned gun.' This implies that any law-abiding citizen would necessarily retrieve a gun in this situation, which is an oversimplification. Finally, there are inflammatory rhetorical devices used throughout the article, such as describing the apartment complex's leasing office as calling in 'a disturbance related to a male and female', which could be interpreted as implying that Fortson was involved in a domestic dispute. However, no egregious or numerous fallacies are present, allowing for a score of 75 out of 100.
        • Ben Crump, a civil rights attorney hired by Fortson’s family...
        • Concerned, he did what any other law-abiding citizen would do and retrieved his legally-owned gun.
        • 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.
      • Bias (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication

      90%

      The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
      (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

      A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

      Man shot by deputy dies: Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office

      WKRG News Summer Poole, Friday, 03 May 2024 23:32
      • Unique Points
        • Deputies were called to Chez Elan Apartments on Racetrack Road for a disturbance call at around 4:30 p.m. on Friday.
        • A man, aged 23, opened the door of the apartment armed with a gun when deputies tried to contact the people inside.
        • The deputy engaged with the man and shot him in self-defense after he identified himself as law enforcement.
        • The man was taken to a hospital but later died from his injuries.
      • Accuracy
        • The shooting resulted from authorities entering the wrong apartment.
      • Deception (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Fallacies (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Bias (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication

      100%

      The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
      (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

      A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

      Air Force airman killed by Florida deputies who were at wrong apartment, attorney says

      NBC News Digital Thursday, 09 May 2024 13:00
      • Unique Points
        • Airman Roger Fortson was at the wrong apartment when deputies responded to a disturbance call.
        • Deputies burst into Fortson's apartment without identification or announcement.
        • Fortson retrieved his legally-owned gun when he heard knocking but was shot six times before he could react.
        • The woman on a FaceTime call with Fortson at the time of the shooting stated that there was no disturbance and Fortson was alone in the apartment.
      • Accuracy
        No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
      • Deception (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Fallacies (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Bias (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication