ATLANTA — New details were shared Thursday surrounding the shooting death of an Atlanta airman by a Florida deputy earlier in May.
Civil rights and personal injury attorney Ben Crump and the family spokes at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, where 23-year-old U.S. Airman Roger Fortson will be buried on Friday.
Crump highlighted two points of contention that he believes counter the sheriff's office's narrative of a disturbance at Fortson's apartment. The family has persistently argued that the deputy who shot Fortson was responding to the wrong apartment.
Lawyers first pointed to the audio of the body-camera video that was released just last week, arguing that the woman who called the deputy and pointed him toward Fortson's apartment didn't know where the alleged disturbance was coming from to begin with, initially responding with "Um, I'm not sure," when asked where the shouting was coming from. In the tape, she doesn't offer a clear answer until being asked several more times.
Crump also played radio recordings between the law enforcement stating there was no information about the disturbance call other than it was a "male and female," and "it's all 4th party information through the front desk of the leasing office."
Crump and the family also pointed to the presence of an alleged female as part of the disturbance, noting that Forston was the only person at home during the incident.
Finally, lawyers pointed to a screenshot from the body-cam video showing Fortson with his gun down by his side and made a point to argue that the deputy did not even give Fortson a command to drop the weapon before opening fire on him six times.
The speech was also concluded with more heartbreaking testimony from Fortson's family, most of them fighting back tears while searching for words to describe someone so central to all their lives.
Fortson's father referred to the young airman as "a good man," talking about a recent conversation the two had about wanting to spend more time together. Taking a deep breath, he noted, "I figured he'd be buying me."
Two of Fortson's sisters then spoke. His oldest recounted Facetimes with her brother and his dog, who could be seen by his side during footage of the shooting. "Family was the most important thing to him," she said, noting how she could call him for anything and even shared how proud he was of Atlanta and being able to call it home.
Fortson's little sister talked of trips to theme parks with her brother and his willingness to lend a hand when a time of need arose for the family. "We may have not had food but he would always come around seeing if we need anything," she stated, tears streaming down her face. "I just miss my brother."
Others who spoke included Fortson's uncle, struck with disbelief, and his two nieces, themselves in tears, crying, "I just want justice for him."
Finally, Fortson's mother gave a passionate rebuke to what she sees as a false narrative about her son, noting, "I don't remember Roger killing a spider." She even took to task the Okaloosa County Sheriff, telling him, "You can come to the funeral when you get justice."
She did remain thankful, though, for the presence of the military throughout the mourning process, describing them as "present...they're walking with me, talking with me."
You can re-watch Thursday's full update in the video below:
More on U.S. Senior Airman Roger Fortson
The body of Fortson, who was fatally shot by a Florida deputy earlier this month, has been returned to metro Atlanta. His casket arrived at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on May 14, draped with an American flag.
Fortson, stationed at the Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field near Fort Walton Beach, was shot on May 3 at an apartment in Florida by an Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office deputy. The deputy was responding to a call about a disturbance in progress and encountered Fortson, who was armed. According to the sheriff's office, the deputy reacted in self-defense after encountering Fortson with a gun.
Fortson, originally from Atlanta and a graduate of McNair High School in DeKalb County, was remembered fondly by family and friends at a vigil held in his honor. His mother, Chantemekki Fortson, expressed her grief, saying, "I’ll never hear his voice again."
Fortson's funeral is Friday at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church.