The family of a slain active-duty airman spoke out on Thursday after authorities released body camera footage of his deadly encounter with a Florida deputy.
The sheriff made the footage public after the family disputed that the deputy acted in self-defense. The family claims that Mr. Forston did nothing wrong and that the deputy went to the wrong home.
The four-and-a-half-minute video showed the deputy’s point of view as he arrived on the scene. He first spoke to a woman outside who described hearing an argument in Apartment 1401. The video showed he knocked on the apartment door and announced his presence twice. “Sheriff’s office, open the door,” he said.
Mr. Forstson was armed with a gun when he opened the door at the deputy’s orders. The footage showed that the weapon was in his right hand, pointed downward.
The deputy yelled, “step back!” and then fired his weapon multiple times.
After Mr. Forston fell to the floor, the deputy demanded he drop his weapon several times, to which Mr. Fortson responded, “It’s over there,” and “I don’t have it.”
The airman was taken to a local hospital, where he died from his injuries.
The family pointed out that the footage was “highly redacted” and further prompted serious concerns about the deputy’s training and experience.
The video provided answers but, more importantly, raised even more troubling questions, the family said.
“As the officer didn’t tell Roger to drop the weapon before shooting, was the officer trained to give verbal warnings? Did the officer try to initiate life-saving measures? Was the officer trained to deal with law-abiding citizens who are registered gun owners?” the family asked.
The family remains adamant that the deputy responded to the wrong residence because Mr. Forston was on the phone with his girlfriend for a substantial amount of time before the incident, and he was alone in the apartment. His girlfriend is expected to hold a news conference to discuss details of her account of what happened.
“Individuals who knew Roger Fortson describe him as an incredible young man, brother, friend, and accountability partner who was always willing to give his last to support someone else!” Mr. Crump said during a news conference.
“Now, sadly, this incredible USAF Senior Airman has been taken from us! We demand JUSTICE!” the attorney stated.
Sheriff Aden said the deputy had not entered the wrong apartment or forced his way into the residence. He also reiterated that the deputy identified himself twice.
But he also said the justification for the deputy’s actions remains undetermined.
“I want to assure you that we are not hiding or covering up or taking action that would result in a rush to judgment of Mr. Fortson or our deputy,” the sheriff stated during a news conference.
The deputy, who has not been publicly identified, has been placed on administrative leave as the incident remains under investigation.
The sheriff asked the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to conduct an investigation. The State Attorney’s Office will also conduct an independent review.
