Ben Crump Hired by Family of US Airman Killed by Florida Sheriff Deputy

The family of a 23-year-old US Airman who was fatally shot by a Florida sheriff's deputy retained prominent civil rights attorney Ben Crump.

Roger Fortson was shot and killed inside his apartment on Friday when an Okaloosa County Sheriff's deputy responding to a disturbance call "reacted in self-defense after he encountered a 23-year-old man armed with a gun."

"We demand accountability for those responsible for his death," Crump said in an email to Newsweek. "And we stand in solidarity with Roger's family and friends as they navigate this unimaginable loss."

Crump is a nationally recognized trial lawyer best known for leading the legal teams for the families of George Floyd, Trayvon Martin and Breonna Taylor. He also has been involved in environmental justice cases, such as representing the residents of Flint, Mich.

How the deadly police-involved shooting unfolded

Fortson, who was from Atlanta, was at his off-base apartment on Racetrack Road when the shooting happened around 4:30 p.m., according to the Air Force.

A witness who was on Facetime with Fortson during the entire encounter said Fortson was alone in his apartment when he heard a knock at the door, according to Crump.

The witness suggested the police were at the wrong apartment since Fortson was alone and there was no disturbance, Crump said.

Fortson allegedly asked, "Who is it?" but did not receive a response.

"A few minutes later, there was a very aggressive knock on the door, but Roger didn't see anyone when he looked out the peephole," Crump said. "Concerned, he did what any other law-abiding citizen would do and retrieved his legally owned gun, but as he was walking back to the living room, police burst through the door."

Fortson was shot six times, according to Crump. The witness said she saw him on the ground saying, "I can't breathe."

Fortson was taken to the hospital, where he died.

"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," Crump said. "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: Roger was home alone, causing no disturbance, when his life was tragically cut short by law enforcement."

'Calling for transparency'

The deputy was placed on administrative leave, "pending the outcome of a formal investigation and administrative review," according to the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office.

"We are calling for transparency in the investigation into Roger's death and the immediate release of body cam video to the family," Crump said.

Newsweek requested body camera footage from the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Department but was told "due to this being an open/active investigation currently, BWC videos are unavailable for release." The department also denied a request to release the affidavit.

"His family and the public deserve to know what occurred in the moments leading up to this tragedy," Crump said. "We urge authorities to immediately stop demonizing Roger in their statements to the media. It's imperative to correct the record and acknowledge the wrongful entry into Roger's home."

Who was Roger Fortson?

Fortson was assigned to the 4th Special Operations Squadron at Hurlburt Field, Fla., according to the Air Force. He entered active duty on Nov. 19, 2019. He enrolled after graduating from high school in Atlanta with honors.

He had no criminal record, according to Crump.

Dozens of heartfelt messages on Facebook have called him a "phenomenal human" who "always had a smile on his face."

"What we know for sure is that Roger was a dedicated U.S. Airman serving the country and a cherished member of his community," Crump said. "Any attempts to tarnish his character only compound the pain felt by his loved ones."