Roger Fortson, age 23

Lost to gun violence on May 3, 2024 in Fort Walton Beach, Florida.

Senior Airman Roger Fortson joined the Air Force on Nov. 19, 2019 & was assigned to the 4th Special Operations Squadron at Hurlburt Field, Florida, where he served as a gunner on the AC-130J Ghostrider & loaded the gunship’s 30mm and 105mm cannons during missions.

Photo sources:

• May 7: Air Force Times: Air Force IDs airman fatally shot by Florida sheriff’s officer
• The Daily Beast: Black Airman’s Family Slam Cops Who Shot Him in His Own Home
• Florida deputy who fatally shot U.S. airman is fired following internal investigation

News sources:

• gofundme.com: Donate to Stand with SrA Roger Fortson Family in this Difficult Time, organized by Raven Harbour
• gofundme.com: Donate to Support for Sr. Airman Roger Fortson's Family, organized by Asya Goode
• AP News: Body camera video shows fatal shooting of Black airman by Florida deputy in apartment doorway
• Ben Crump: Ben Crump: Press on Slain Airman Roger Fortson, U.S. Airman
• AP News: US service member shot and killed by Florida police identified by the Air Force
• May 8: Military.com: Police Who Shot Florida Airman 6 Times in His Home May Have Entered Wrong Apartment, Family Says
• May 7: Air Force Times: Air Force IDs airman fatally shot by Florida sheriff’s officer
• WEAR: UPDATE: 23-year-old man killed in officer-involved shooting in Okaloosa County
• Gun Violence Archive

Other nearby fatal shootings:

• Fort Walton Beach, FL - September 12, 2023
• Fort Walton Beach, FL - December 24, 2022
• Fort Walton Beach, FL - July 7, 2022
• Fort Walton Beach, FL - February 9, 2022
• Fort Walton Beach, FL - January 31, 2022