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.
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 ...
Even if he was at the wrong apartment?.................
We are always making the case that guns are not dangerous, yet it seems this deputy shot just because he saw a gun. It was not a threat, however.
Of course, the racial dynamics are going to bring a whole different level of controversy, but unless there is something in the background of the deputy that indicates any sort of racial bias, I don't see how that had anything to do with it.
The deputy should plead guilty to some type of manslaughter and do some time.
“The deputy should plead guilty to some type of manslaughter and do some time.”
Why when you have a standing get out of jail free card?
That's not true. Several police officers have gone to jail for bad shootings.
“Several police officers have gone to jail.”
Percentage?
Oh yeah. Won't go to trial. Some insurance company will pay it off. And the taxpayers will foot the bill.
But will this trigger happy cop face justice? (I doubt it.)
You would think the police were out there in just a t-shirt instead of a ballistic or bulletproof vest. I didn't get whether the victim in the black t-shirt might of had a really new bulletproof vest on.
Annual to stay certified. They figured if there was going to pay a claim then the LEO’s needed to retain their certifications and show proof of training.
Florida police: Police, open the door!!
Red Badger: Wait let me get my body armor on!!
Deputy needs to be locked away. Forever. And whoever was responsible for their training fired.
Competed with the DEI training I was subjected to in the mid-90s.
(As a Miami LEO).
‘When government unionizes, who are they unionizing against, us.”
No truer words...
“We are always making the case that guns are not dangerous, yet it seems this deputy shot just because he saw a gun. It was not a threat, however”.
As a LEO, I was subjected to a “shoot/don’t shoot” video and handed a revolver with an electrically-connected trigger.
In the mall scene, the “subject” ran up to me with one hand behind his back. When he got to about ten feet of me, he whipped out a sawed-off shotgun and fired it at my head. I ‘shot’ him just before a blur of lead shot passed by my head.
By the reaction of the police instructors in attendance, no other officer had gotten off his shot!
If you have a gun in your hand, expect police to shoot
There was no domestic violence occurring in the dead man’s apartment
He was alone in his apartment talking on the phone with his girlfriend
He had no reason to expect the police that day.
Also note in the article that the cop stood out of view of the peep hole when he knocked so the man could not confirm that it was a cop at the door.
Given that criminals pretend to be police to commit home invasions these days I consider it reasonable to answer the door with a firearm in hand.
This cop was pumped on adrenaline and committed manslaughter.
I saw a you tube video on that episode, but I didn’t realize this was the same department.
“The officer was afraid for his life” = good shoot. Tough sh!t for the guy he murdered.
The Rodney King case was a clear example from decades ago. (I believe it was four officers)
A more recent case were the four officers in the George Floyd case.
A friend did it some time back. The Cops saw it, and no mention of it was made. It was 1 AM, and they were there to tell him his wife had been injured. A domestic call might have had them in edge.
I think the victim was completely oblivious to the domestic disturbance that the cops were checking on. Wrong address....
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.