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Police release bodycam vid of airman fatally shot by Florida deputy during domestic distrubence call

The victim has been identified as 23-year-old Roger Fortson, an ​active-duty senior airman.

Published: May 10, 2024 8:55am

Updated: May 10, 2024 8:57am

A Florida sheriff has released the body-cam video of a deputy fatally shooting an Air Force airman last week in his apartment doorway while responding to a call for a disturbance in the building.

The victim has been identified as 23-year-old Roger Fortson, an ​active-duty senior airman.

The May 3 body-cam footage released Thursday appears to show a deputy arriving at an apartment complex, a female voice saying there was a disturbance in apartment 1401 that is “getting out of hand,” the deputy coming to the door of that apartment and announcing himself twice, according to CNN.

The video then shows the apartment’s door opening, the deputy says “step back,” then firing his weapon.

Fortson, who is a black male, is seen standing at the door with his hands down and what appears to be in his right hand at his side, before falling to the floor after being shot.  

His family says Fortson was FaceTiming with his girl him and the deputy was at the wrong unit, CNN also reports.

Okaloosa County Sheriff Eric Aden has asked the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Division to handle the criminal investigation, as is required. He also said the deputy has been placed on administrative leave but no determination has been made as to whether the his actions were justified.

“What we do know at this time is that the deputy did announce himself, not once but twice,” he also said, according to the cable news network. "Mr. Fortson’s comments indicate that he did acknowledge it was law enforcement at the door and he arrived at the door with a firearm in his hand. The deputy knocked on the correct door, he did not cover the peephole or otherwise obscured its view in any way.”

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