Hundreds gather to honor Black airman killed in his home by a Florida deputy

A mourner stands at the casket of slain airman Roger Fortson during his funeral at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, Friday, May 17, 2024, near Atlanta. 's family, friends and others at a suburban Atlanta megachurch on Friday to pay their final respects to the Black senior airman, who was shot and killed in his Florida home earlier this month by a sheriff's deputy.

"As you can see from the sea of Air Force blue in front of me, I am not alone in my admiration of Senior Airman Fortson," Col. Patrick Dierig told mourners. The Rev. Jamal Bryant began his eulogy with a story about how civil rights icon Medgar Evers joined the Army during World War II even though he and other Black American service members were fighting for freedoms abroad that they didn't enjoy at home.

In a recorded video played at the service, the Rev. Al Sharpton also highlighted Fortson's military service and called for his death to not go unpunished. She also had a message for Okaloosa County Sheriff Eric Aden: "You're going to give me justice whether you want to, Sheriff Aden, or not," she said., Fortson opened the door while holding a handgun pointed toward the floor, according to the deputy's body camera footage. The deputy shouted, "Step back!" and then shot Fortson six times. Only afterward did he shout, "Drop the gun! Drop the gun!" The deputy then called paramedics on his radio.

Sheriff's officials say the deputy acted in self-defense while responding to a call about a possible domestic disturbance in progress at the apartment complex., saying Roger Fortson was home alone at the time FaceTiming with his girlfriend and that the deputy had gone to the wrong unit.

Deputy Air Force Florida Shooting Justice Murder Megachurch

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