The family of the Black airman slain by Florida police in his own home last week held an emotional press conference Thursday morning, describing their loved one as a true patriot and someone who exemplified the American dream.
Roger Fortson, a 23-year-old senior airman with the United States Air Force, was a “good person” who “respected authority” and followed the rules, they said.
“Roger wanted to show us how to love unconditionally,” said Fortson’s mother Meka Fortson, while holding back tears and gripping a framed photo of her son in his Air Force blues. “Roger wanted to show… that it was more to life than… making a fool of himself.”
An unnamed deputy with the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Department fatally shot Fortson on May 3, according to a reported. According to the investigation, the officer mistook a fallen acorn for a gunshot. The officer later resigned.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement told The Daily Beast in a statement Thursday that it was investigating the May 3 shooting.
“The [Florida Department of Law Enforcement] use-of-force cases are independent, fact-finding investigations. The results are referred to the State Attorney’s office to determine further action,” the department said, adding that it could not provide any more information during the active investigation.
Crump said any law-abiding citizen “should be troubled” by Fortson’s death and police officers’ dismissal of him legally owning a gun in his own home.
“This truly is about the Constitution. … When you think about the people who we want to have guns in America, [Fortson] is Exhibit A. I mean he was trained to use a firearm. He’s a military trained officer. He’s very responsible. He respects authority. He’s very diplomatic,” Crump said. “He was protecting us so that we could have all those constitutional rights. … [Fortson] was a patriot for all of us.”
