Democracy Dies in Darkness

Deputy fatally shot Black airman seconds after opening door, video shows

A body-worn camera video shows a Florida sheriff’s deputy firing at Senior Airman Roger Fortson six times.

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Updated May 9, 2024 at 6:54 p.m. EDT|Published May 9, 2024 at 3:20 a.m. EDT

The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office released captioned body-camera footage on May 9 showing one of its deputies fatally shooting Senior Airman Roger Fortson. (Video: Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office)

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A Black Air Force airman was killed by a Florida deputy almost immediately after opening his door to the officer, a body-camera video released Thursday shows.

An unnamed male Okaloosa County sheriff’s deputy fatally shot Senior Airman Roger Fortson, 23, last week. The video shows how rapidly a 911 call on a Friday afternoon at a quiet apartment complex in Fort Walton Beach unraveled and ended with Fortson writhing on the floor after having been shot six times.