Three months after the shooting death of Roger Fortson, a U.S. Air Force airman, his family and renowned civil rights attorney Ben Crump held a press conference in Florida, urging that the officer responsible face legal consequences.
Crump expressed frustration over the delays in the case, suggesting that such delays might indicate an attempt to obscure the truth. He emphasized the importance of August 23 as the expected date for prosecutors to announce their decision on potential charges, voicing concerns over the slow progress.
Roger Forston’s mother urges swift justice, contrasting her son’s quick actions as a rescuer with the slow investigation
Chantemekki Forston, Roger’s mother, urged prosecutors to act promptly, highlighting the contrast between her son’s quick actions as a rescuer and the prolonged delay in seeking justice for his death.
The incident occurred on May 23 in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, when Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Deputy Eddie Duran fatally shot Forston, who was 23 years old. The shooting happened after police entered Forston’s apartment while he was holding a handgun. Duran fired six shots, killing Forston within moments, as shown in body camera footage.
Sheriff Eric Aden dismissed Duran from the force, asserting that Forston did not display any threatening behavior and that Duran’s use of deadly force was not justified, based on the results of an internal investigation.
An employee from the apartment complex had reported a loud argument, prompting the sheriff’s office to send a deputy. However, the deputy found no disturbance when he arrived. Forston was reportedly alone, and his girlfriend mentioned they were on a routine video call when the deputy began knocking on the door.
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), who represents the area where Forston lived, condemned the shooting, stating that the body camera footage made it clear that Forston did not deserve to die.
Crump and Forston’s family have continued to demand transparency and accountability, criticizing the sluggish pace of the investigation. The Congressional Black Caucus has echoed these calls, accusing the authorities of damaging public trust and urging the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to release their findings and provide detailed information to the grieving community.
