Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

FL: Body Cam Shows Police Shoot Armed Man in His Home
AmmoLand ^ | May 13, 2024 | Dean Weingarten

Posted on 05/15/2024 4:14:31 AM PDT by marktwain

At about 4:28 p.m., on May 3rd, 2024, in Okaloosa County, Florida, an Okaloosa Deputy Sheriff responded to a domestic violence call from an apartment complex. A few minutes later, the Deputy shot and killed Senior Airman Roger Fortson after Fortson opened his apartment door in response to the Deputy’s demands.

The incident has gone viral. Fortson’s family has hired controversial lawyer Ben Crump. Crump has made statements the shooting was at the wrong apartment, and Fortson was shot as he walked away from the door, and deputies burst into the apartment. From news4sanantonio.com:

Crump wrote that Fortson grabbed his “legally-owned” gun and was shot as he was walking back to the living room, as deputies burst through the door.

The Okaloosa County Sheriff released the body camera video at a press conference. Here is a synopsis of what this correspondent saw in the video.

A woman at the complex directed the Deputy Sheriff to apartment 1401 based on information she had received from another woman. The Deputy called for backup and told the woman to direct the backup to him when they arrived. The Deputy proceeded to the apartment.  He listened for several seconds at the apartment, then knocked on the door. Then he moved out of the vulnerable area in front of the door and out of the view of the peephole. Then he knocked again while out of view of the peephole.  From inside the apartment, a garbled phrase can be heard, of a few words. The only distinguishable word was “police”.

The deputy moves in front of the door, knocks loudly, and announces himself. He demands the door be opened. He knocks again, loudly announcing himself and demanding the door be opened. The door is opened partially. The deputy commands: step back.

(Excerpt) Read more at ammoland.com ...


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: banglist; dontanswerthedoor; fl; fortson; police
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061 next last
Body cameras are getting better and better. The resolution on this one shows Roger Fortson being killed by the deputy Sheriff.
1 posted on 05/15/2024 4:14:31 AM PDT by marktwain
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: marktwain
Link to video on Rumble.

Link to YouTube video:

2 posted on 05/15/2024 4:22:02 AM PDT by marktwain (The Republic is at risk. Resistance to the Democratic Party is Resistance to Tyranny. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: marktwain

Seems like a cop on an adrenaline high reacted to the sight of a gun.

Too bad that there is not money for simulation training cops for these situations.


3 posted on 05/15/2024 4:36:32 AM PDT by Pontiac (The welfare state must fail because it is contrary to human nature and diminishes the human spirit.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Pontiac

I wonder if a huge lawsuit is in the future?


4 posted on 05/15/2024 4:38:47 AM PDT by Mark17 (Retired USAF air traffic controller. Father of Air Force pilot. Both bitten by the aviation bug)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Mark17

With Ben Crump involved?

That’s the only reason he ever gets near things like this


5 posted on 05/15/2024 4:42:50 AM PDT by digger48
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Mark17

6 posted on 05/15/2024 4:45:46 AM PDT by LuigiBonnafini
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Pontiac

Shoot/Don’t Shoot training was provided by the City’s insurance carrier in the city where I was the City Manager. It was mandatory as part of their coverage.


7 posted on 05/15/2024 4:48:27 AM PDT by shotgun
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Mark17
Fortson’s family has hired controversial lawyer Ben Crump. Crump has made statements the shooting was at the wrong apartment, and Fortson was shot as he walked away from the door, and deputies burst into the apartment.

Yep.

8 posted on 05/15/2024 4:48:43 AM PDT by Pontiac (The welfare state must fail because it is contrary to human nature and diminishes the human spirit.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: marktwain

Poor training on several counts.
First, wait for backup. The deputy had already requested backup, but chose to move ahead without waiting.
Second, no threat assessment. Did the deputy already have his own gun drawn? It doesn’t appear so.
Third, five shots, three of them after the subject was down? I understand the stress (former LEO, myself), but...

I don’t think looks good for the deputy.


9 posted on 05/15/2024 4:48:59 AM PDT by PubliusMM (RKBA; a matter of fact, not opinion. The Dhimmicraps are ALL Traitors. All of them.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: shotgun

How frequent was the retraining?

One and done is not effective.


10 posted on 05/15/2024 4:52:22 AM PDT by Pontiac (The welfare state must fail because it is contrary to human nature and diminishes the human spirit.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: LuigiBonnafini
An outside agency is doing the investigation.

Outside agency investigation is mandated in Florida.

11 posted on 05/15/2024 4:56:41 AM PDT by marktwain (The Republic is at risk. Resistance to the Democratic Party is Resistance to Tyranny. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Pontiac

Woo. That’s a tough one. Cop had his weapon drawn. Door opened. Suspect had the gun in his hand but down at his side. Is there a presumption of guilt if you open the door with a gun? It was less than 2 seconds and the deputy opened fire. I’m not trained for this sort of thing, but that seems exceptionally short to make an assessment and decide to use lethal force. Any tac training I’ve taken you issue verbal commands until the threat is imminent. I guess a weapon at the side is imminent?


12 posted on 05/15/2024 5:04:34 AM PDT by rarestia (“A nation which can prefer disgrace to danger is prepared for a master, and deserves one.” -Hamilton)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: marktwain
I believe this to be the same Sheriff's department that open fire because of an acorn.

Florida deputy mistakes falling acorn for gunshot, fires into patrol car with Black man inside

I'm not sure if it was the same deputy, but if it was, I would recommend firing the Sheriff and bringing in someone who can properly retrain the force.

I had an encounter with an off-duty sheriff's deputy in my area. He was very angry and upset, and he even broke down crying while trying to explain his frustration. I'm relieved he wasn't carrying a weapon while off duty. It seems like the current generation of deputies behave like man-children who grew up sitting in front of game consoles. Our country is in serious trouble.
13 posted on 05/15/2024 5:17:07 AM PDT by DEPcom (DC is not my Capitol after Jan 6th lock downs.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rarestia

“Is there a presumption of guilt if you open the door with a gun?”

YES... ABSOLUTELY... Anything that EVEN LOOKS LIKE A GUN in your hand is guilty and an immediate death sentence.


14 posted on 05/15/2024 5:21:37 AM PDT by Openurmind (The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world it leaves to its children. ~ D. Bonhoeffer)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: marktwain

This happened down the street from my house................


15 posted on 05/15/2024 5:26:32 AM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegals are put up in 5 Star hotels....................)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rarestia

This deputy is in deep doo-doo..................


16 posted on 05/15/2024 5:27:57 AM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegals are put up in 5 Star hotels....................)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: marktwain

This is the same Sheriff’s Department that a deputy unloaded his weapon into his cruiser with prisoner inside because he heard an acorn fall on the hood and thought it was gunfire................. That deputy was fired.............


17 posted on 05/15/2024 5:29:56 AM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegals are put up in 5 Star hotels....................)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rarestia

Suspect ? Suspected of what ? Donut Cop says: Die !!


18 posted on 05/15/2024 5:30:03 AM PDT by OldHarbor
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: rarestia

This is a good example of why you shouldn’t have a firearm in your hands or even visible when opening the door for law enforcement.


19 posted on 05/15/2024 5:34:15 AM PDT by TheDon (Resist the usurpers! Remember the J6 political prisoners!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: rarestia

“””””Door opened. Suspect had the gun in his hand but down at his side. Is there a presumption of guilt if you open the door with a gun? It was less than 2 seconds and the deputy opened fire. I’m not trained for this sort of thing, but that seems exceptionally short to make an assessment and decide to use lethal force.”””””

In that situation the burden of risk is on the cop knocking on a door, not the homeowner.

Cops have to have it explained to them that they have to endure risk in the job, they cannot just kill any and all possible risks that they see during their shifts or when they walk into our homes and at our backyard BBQs.


20 posted on 05/15/2024 5:37:10 AM PDT by ansel12 ((NATO warrior under Reagan, and RA under Nixon, bemoaning the pro-Russians from Vietnam to Ukraine.))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson