Airman shot dead after answering door to sheriff who got wrong apartment

A US airman described as “a patriot” was shot dead in his hallway by a police officer who barged into the wrong apartment, his family has claimed.

Roger Fortson, 23, was shot multiple times after answering his front door to a sheriff’s deputy while holding a handgun in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, on May 3.

The officer, who has not been named, was responding to a domestic violence call at Chez Elan Apartments after a woman reported a couple arguing in a nearby apartment.

Mr Fortson’s family claim he was alone in his home at the time.

Police bodycam footage released on Thursday shows the deputy knocking on Mr Fortson’s door and shouting: “Sheriff’s office! Open the door!”

Mr Fortson, a senior airman with 4th Special Operations Squadron, can be seen opening the door while holding a licensed gun pointed down at the floor in his right hand.

As he sees the officer, he briefly raises his left hand in protest but the deputy immediately fires six shots at him, striking Mr Fortson and causing him to fall to the floor.

“Drop the gun! Drop the gun!” the officer shouts after opening fire.

“It’s over there,” replies Mr Forston as he lies on the ground. “I don’t have it.”

The officer, who appeared to be alone at the time of the raid, then calls for additional support on his police radio.

Mr Forston, who worked for the special operations wing at Hurlburt Field airbase in Florida, later died from his wounds.

His mother Chantemekki Fortson held a framed portrait of her late son wearing his military uniform before speaking at a press conference on Thursday.

“My baby was shot up,” she said.

Ben Crump, a civil rights lawyer, who is representing the family, said: “For whatever reason, they thought he was a bad guy, but he was a good guy. He was a great guy. He was an exceptional guy. They took a patriot from us.”

He “was the best America had to offer”, he added. “He was fighting for our way of life. He was fighting for everybody.”

Okaloosa County sheriff Eric Aden said his department was “saddened” about the shooting. “At this time, we humbly ask for our community’s patience as we work to understand the facts that resulted in this tragic event,” he said.

Florida’s department of law enforcement said it is investigating the shooting.