Mika Fortson, mother of Roger Fortson, a U.S. Navy airman, holds a photo of her son during a recent news conference. Fortson was shot and killed by police in his apartment on May 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert).
On May 3, 23-year-old Senior Airman Roger Fortson was shot and killed by an Okaloosa County (Florida) Sheriff seconds after opening his front door.
No instructions given. No warning. No waiting. Just one second and six shots fired as Roger’s girlfriend listened through a facetime call.
Roger’s young life, dedicated to service to our country, was taken where he should have felt the safest.
The NAACP said in a statement: Police murder someone every day in America. So far, police have already killed at least 380 people this year. How many more people have to die before we see reform? How much more or our tax dollars will be spent paying for excessive force cases? How much longer can cities across the country cut crucial social programs to pump money into already bloated police budgets?Enough is enough.
The Fortson killing may be just one tragedy, but many Blacks believe it’s one tragedy too many – and there are too many other Fortsons.
Authorities in Florida have released body camera footage capturing Fortson’s tragic shooting death. The fact that he served his country via the U.S. Air Force didn’t inspire police to serve him.
Bodycam of #RogerFortson fatal police death. In the four-and-a-half minute, heavily redacted video, it is very troubling that the deputy shot multiple times within a split second of the door being opened, killing Roger. pic.twitter.com/ZngLhwsxX8
— Ben Crump (@AttorneyCrump) May 9, 2024
The video shows the deputy being directed to Fortson’s unit (#1401) by a witness who reported hearing shouting and slapping noises from that apartment two weeks prior. However, the witness admitted she was unsure of the specific unit the previous disturbance came from.
Upon reaching Fortson’s door, the deputy did not initially announce himself as police. When Fortson eventually opened the door holding a gun pointed at the floor, the deputy rapidly fired six shots into his chest without warning.
As Fortson lay dying, he told the deputy, “It’s over there, I don’t have it” referring to the gun’s location. The footage shows Fortson never raised the weapon towards the officer.
Fortson’s family reiterated their belief that authorities went to the wrong door.
“We remain adamant that the police had the wrong apartment as Roger was on the phone with his girlfriend for a substantial amount of time leading up to the shooting, and no one else was in the apartment,” Fortson’s family said in a statement following the release of the footage.
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, representing Fortson’s family, condemned the shooting as an “execution” that violated Fortson’s civil rights.
“There’s no question that the officer acted with impulse and a lack of proper training when he shot and killed Roger within seconds of the door opening,” said Crump.
The NAACP is turning up the volume on their call for law enforcement accountability.
“Police reform is about people. It’s about the countless lives unjustly taken at the hands of law enforcement, as well as the communities who live in constant fear of falling victim to police violence. Roger Fortson should be alive today. Frank Tyson should be alive today. Michael Brown should be alive today. George Floyd should be alive today. Breonna Taylor should be alive today. Freddie Gray should be alive today. Sandra Bland should be alive today. Tamir Rice should be alive today. So many more whose names never make headlines should be alive today,” the iconic civil rights organization said in a statement.
.
“We continue to wait for action on meaningful police reform legislation from elected officials. They continue to fail us. It is truly disheartening that there is a lack of courage and bravery from elected officials to bring about true reform. But a failed result does not change our resolve,” the statement continued.
Specifically, the NAACP is calling on Congress to pass legislation to end qualified immunity and develop a national database to remove officers engaged in a pattern of misconduct from Black communities.
