Attorneys representing the family of Senior Airman Roger Fortson, a 23-year-old Air Force airman who was fatally shot last week by a Florida sheriff's deputy, are urging law enforcement officials to correct the narrative surrounding his death. The family's lawyers argued that Fortson had done nothing wrong and that the deputy had burst into the wrong unit when the shooting occurred.

According to the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office, Fortson was shot late Friday afternoon by a deputy who was responding to a call about a disturbance. Fortson's girlfriend, who was on a FaceTime call with him at the time, claimed that the deputy entered the wrong apartment and shot Fortson when he saw that he was armed. The girlfriend, who did not attend the news conference, was left distraught by the incident.

During a news conference, one of the family's attorneys, Brian Barr, criticized the sheriff's office for misleading the public through its statement about the shooting. He emphasized the need for transparency and for law enforcement to take ownership of their mistakes. The attorney pointed out that the official statement made it seem like Fortson had instigated the incident, while in reality, he was simply a victim of a tragic error.

Civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump, who is also representing Fortson's family, announced that they plan to review the body camera footage with members of the sheriff's office. They expect the video to be released to the public soon. Crump condemned the initial narrative put forth by the sheriff's office, stating that it demonized Fortson's name and unjustifiably tried to defend the officer's actions.

Fortson's mother, Chantimekki Fortson, pleaded with the sheriff's department to release more information about the encounter and to correct her son's reputation. She described her son as a compassionate, intelligent, and respectful individual who had aspired to be in the Air Force since he was a young boy.

The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office has not responded to requests for comment regarding the incident. However, Sheriff Eric Aden did place the deputy involved on administrative leave immediately following the shooting and requested an investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, as per department policy. The Florida State Attorney's Office will also conduct an independent review.

The shooting of Senior Airman Roger Fortson has drawn comparisons to previous cases involving police brutality. Attorney Crump cited the case of Botham Jean, an unarmed Black man who was fatally shot in 2018 by a white off-duty Dallas police officer, as an example. Crump represented Jean's family, as well as the families of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd, who also fell victim to police violence.

The family continues to seek justice for Fortson and hopes that the truth will prevail in this tragic incident. The release of the body camera footage and the ongoing investigations will play a crucial role in determining the facts surrounding the shooting.