The tragic death of U.S. Airman Roger Fortson after an encounter May 3 with a deputy in Fort Walton Florida, has reignited the national debate about what appropriate use of force should be when police officers make contact with citizens. Bodycam video showed Fortson was fatally shot while holding a gun in his hand, but he did not appear to point the weapon at the deputy who fired his weapon at Fortson.
Attorneys representing Fortson’s family have contended the deputy was responding to the wrong address when the deadly shooting occurred, which Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office has disputed.
The shooting calls into question how effective the Biden Administration’s police reforms have been in the wake of George Floyd.
Listen to the BLK News Now! headlines podcast to learn more about this week’s more important stories in Black America.
DON’T MISS THE BLK FRIDAY PODCAST EVERY FRIDAY at 6 PM (PT) ON SPOTIFY AND YOUTUBE!