Florida police release bodycam footage after Black US airman fatally shot

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office released police bodycam footage Thursday of the fatal shooting of a 23-year-old Black US airman.

The shooting happened last week at the home of the victim, who has been publicly identified as Roger Fortson. Attorneys for Fortson's family had asked that the footage be released to the public.

It was released by Okaloosa County Sheriff Eric Aden during a press conference.

The footage opens with a Sheriff's deputy arriving on the scene and being directed to Fortson's apartment by bystanders. The deputy repeatedly knocks on the door, twice saying, "Sheriff's office. Open the door" before it is opened by Fortson.

As the door opens, the deputy says "step back" before quickly firing off five shots. "Drop the gun," he says. An object that may have been a firearm appears in the man's right hand, but the footage is blurry.

"It's over there. I don't have it," Fortson says as he lies on the ground after apparently being shot.

"It pains me to show the video, but I know you all need to see it," Aden, the county sheriff, said during a news conference.

Fortson died in a local hospital while being treated for the injuries he sustained.

Aden said in a previous statement that the deputy was responding "to a call of a disturbance in progress where he encountered an armed man."

The Florida Department of Investigation is carrying out a criminal investigation of the shooting, and the state attorney’s office will conduct a final review thereafter, authorities said.

"We know you have many questions, as do we. But we are confident in our state's agencies' abilities to investigate the facts no matter where they may lead, and we are prepared to take action that is required to best serve our residents, the military community, and our visitors," said Aden.