In a tragic incident that has raised serious questions, Senior Airman Roger Fortson, a 23-year-old special operations airman based in Florida, was shot and killed in his own home by local police. An attorney for his family revealed that officers may have entered the wrong apartment during their response to a reported disturbance.

According to attorney Ben Crump, who represents Fortson's family, the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office responded to a disturbance call between a man and a woman in an apartment building. However, they mistakenly entered Fortson's apartment instead. The young airman, who was Black, was alone at the time and was fatally shot six times by the deputies.

Crump expressed deep concern about the incident, stating, "The circumstances surrounding Roger's death raise serious questions that demand immediate answers from authorities, especially considering the alarming witness statement that the police entered the wrong apartment."

The attorney disputed the narrative presented by law enforcement, which suggested that Fortson posed a threat. Crump emphasized that Fortson was at home alone, causing no disturbance, when his life was tragically taken by law enforcement.

The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office has not yet responded to the attorney's claims. However, the department has recently faced scrutiny due to a deputy resigning following an internal investigation. Last year, the deputy mistakenly fired his weapon multiple times at a detained suspect after mistaking the sound of an acorn for a gunshot.

Witness statements provide an alternative version of events, according to Crump. There was no disturbance within Fortson's apartment, and he was actually on a video call with another individual. The witness stated that Fortson heard a knock on his door and asked who it was, but received no response. After a second, more aggressive knock and seeing no one through the peephole, Fortson grabbed his legally owned firearm. However, before he could react further, police entered the apartment and shot him.

Once on the ground, Fortson reportedly said, "I can't breathe," echoing the witness account. Shortly after the incident, police radio audio indicated a call for a disturbance at the apartment complex, followed by reports of shots fired and a downed suspect. Fortson was shot six times, according to Crump's statement.

Fortson, who served as an AC-130J gunner, lived off-base and belonged to the 4th Special Operations Squadron at Hurlburt Field. His service record, obtained by Military.com, revealed that he joined the Air Force in November 2019 and had an impressive academic record with no criminal history.

The officer involved in the shooting has not been identified, and the sheriff's office has placed the individual on paid administrative leave pending investigation and administrative review. Okaloosa County Sheriff Eric Aden expressed sadness over the incident and called for a thorough investigation.

Crump, on behalf of Fortson's family, has called for transparency in the investigation, demanding the release of body camera footage. The family and the public deserve to know what occurred leading up to this tragedy, according to Crump.

As the investigation into Senior Airman Roger Fortson's death continues, his family seeks justice and answers regarding the wrongful entry into his home that resulted in his untimely demise.