Senior Airman Roger Fortson Shot Dead by Okaloosa County Deputy: Community Demands Full Investigation

Fort Walton Beach, Florida United States of America
Fortson heard knocking on his door but did not receive an answer before deputies burst in and saw him armed. No altercation or commands were given before shots were fired.
Fortson was a 23-year-old Senior Airman stationed at Hurlburt Field.
Fortson was described as a devoted son, brother, and friend who had larger purposes for his service in the Air Force.
On May 9, 2024, in Okaloosa County, Florida, Senior Airman Roger Fortson was shot and killed by an Okaloosa County deputy.
The shooting of Fortson has sparked outrage from civil rights groups including the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Okaloosa NAACP.
The shooting took place at Chez Elan Apartments in Fort Walton Beach.
Senior Airman Roger Fortson Shot Dead by Okaloosa County Deputy: Community Demands Full Investigation

On May 9, 2024, in Okaloosa County, Florida, a tragic incident occurred when an Air Force Airman identified as Roger Fortson was shot and killed by an Okaloosa County deputy. The shooting took place at Chez Elan Apartments in Fort Walton Beach. According to various sources including the Southern Poverty Law Center and local news outlets, Fortson was a 23-year-old Senior Airman stationed at Hurlburt Field.

The events leading up to the shooting are still under investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). However, it is known that Fortson was at home when he heard knocking on his door. He asked who it was but did not receive an answer. Deputies then burst into his apartment without warning and saw him armed. According to some sources, no altercation or commands were given before shots were fired.

Fortson's family and friends have described him as a devoted son, brother, and friend who was always looking out for their well-being. He had larger purposes for his service in the Air Force including saving up to buy his mother a house and getting her a new car. Fortson was also there for his mother when she got into an accident and needed to go to the emergency room.

The shooting of Fortson has sparked outrage from civil rights groups who are calling for a full investigation into the incident. The Southern Poverty Law Center is urging an end to police violence against black people in light of this tragedy. The Okaloosa NAACP also expressed concern and demanded action from the authorities.

The Air Force community is mourning the loss of one of their own. Major general Pat Ryder, a top ranking officer at the Pentagon, offered his thoughts and prayers to Fortson's family. Rev. Cecil Williams with Gregg Chapel AME Church in Fort Walton Beach also weighed in expressing sadness over the loss.

The investigation into the shooting is ongoing and it is important that all facts are presented before any conclusions are drawn. The community is urged to be patient and wait for FDLE's findings.


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Confidence

80%

Doubts
  • It is unclear why deputies burst into Fortson's apartment without warning or identification.
  • The exact events leading up to the shooting are still under investigation.

Sources

89%

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

Florida sheriff releases bodycam video of airman fatally shot in apartment, disputes family’s claim deputy went to wrong unit

CNN News Site: In-Depth Reporting and Analysis with Some Financial Conflicts and Sensational Language Christina Maxouris, Thursday, 09 May 2024 13:39
  • Unique Points
    • Florida sheriff publicly released bodycam footage of a deputy who fatally shot a Black airman in his home last week
    • Victim, identified as Roger Fortson, was 23-year-old active-duty senior airman
    • Deputy shot Fortson within seconds of the door being opened, Fortson had a gun in his hand
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (50%)
    The article contains selective reporting as it only reports details that support the author's position. The author states that the deputy announced himself twice and that Fortson acknowledged it was law enforcement at the door. However, they do not mention or quote Fortson's family's claim that he believed the deputy had gone to the wrong apartment and was on the phone with his girlfriend at the time of the shooting. This omission is deceptive as it creates an incomplete picture of events leading up to the shooting.
    • Fortson's family reiterated their belief that authorities went to the wrong apartment.
    • What we do know at this time is that the deputy did announce himself, not once but twice.
    • Deputies responded last Friday to an apartment after receiving a call for a disturbance in progress.
    • The same woman tells the deputy she previously walked by the apartment and heard yells and a slap, but added she wasn't sure where it came from.
  • 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

Civil rights group demands action after Air Force Airman's death in Okaloosa County

Weartv Karris Harmon Saturday, 11 May 2024 08:18
  • Unique Points
    • Airman Roger Fortson, a 23-year-old Senior Airman stationed at Hurlburt Field, has died in Okaloosa County.
    • The Southern Poverty Law Center is calling for a full investigation into the death of Airman Fortson and urging an end to police violence against black people.
    • Okaloosa County deputy shot and killed Airman Fortson, but no justifiable reason was given for the shooting according to the Okaloosa NAACP.
    • The body camera footage of the incident has been released, showing no altercation behind the door before shots were fired. No commands were given by the deputy until after he shot Airman Fortson.
  • 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 (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

97%

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

Airman shot by deputy doted on little sister and aimed to buy mom a house, family says

The Associated Press News Thursday, 09 May 2024 23:01
  • Unique Points
    • He was devoted to helping his family prosper, including teaching his mother to love and forgive.
    • He had larger purposes for his service, including saving up to buy his mother a house and getting her a new car.
    • He was also by his mother’s side when she got into an accident and needed to go to the emergency room.
  • Accuracy
    • U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Roger Fortson was shot and killed by a deputy in Florida on Friday.
    • Deputy announced himself twice before entering the apartment.
    • Victim, identified as Roger Fortson, was 23-year-old active-duty senior airman.
    • Fortson's family believes authorities went to the wrong apartment and that there was no disturbance at the time.
  • 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

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

Florida sheriff deputies burst into wrong apartment and fatally shot U.S. airman, attorney says

CBS News Site: https://www.cbsnews.com/articles/about-us/ Saturday, 11 May 2024 08:20
  • Unique Points
    • On May 9, 2024, Florida police stormed the wrong apartment and fatally shot Senior Airman Roger Fortson, 23, who was home alone at Chez Elan Apartments in Fort Walton Beach.
    • Senior Airman Roger Fortson was a special missions aviator in the US Air Force assigned to the 4th Special Operations Squadron.
    • Fortson was on a Facetime call with a woman when he heard knocking at his door. He asked who it was but didn’t receive an answer.
    • Deputies burst into Fortson’s apartment without warning, saw him armed and shot him six times.
  • Accuracy
    • ,
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (85%)
    The article reports on a tragic incident involving the wrongful killing of an airman by law enforcement. While the author does not make any direct logical fallacies, there is an appeal to authority and inflammatory rhetoric present in quotes from the attorney for the victim's family. The language used by Ben Crump, such as 'serious questions that demand immediate answers', 'we are calling for transparency', and 'the public deserves to know what occurred' is highly charged and emotive, but does not constitute a formal fallacy.
    • 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.
    • We are calling for transparency in the investigation into Roger's death and the immediate release of body cam video to the family.
    • The public deserves to know what occurred in the moments leading up to this tragedy.
  • 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