6
- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Score Board
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- SEC Score Board
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
Roger Fortson trial- deputy not guilty of manslaughter of Airman who opened door with gun
Posted on 10/8/26 at 11:17 am
Posted on 10/8/26 at 11:17 am
- domestic violence disturbance in Apartment complex
- weeks later, officer come by
- cop is given address, knocks on door
- Fortson not involved with the domestic incident, is on Facetime with Girlfriend
- Fortson answers door with gun in hand
LINK Fortson later died at a hospital. The domestic disturbance report that led Duran to Fortson’s apartment turned out to be false.
After the shooting, authorities said Fortson was alone in the apartment and on the phone with his girlfriend.
Fortson was assigned as a missions operator to the 4th Special Operations Squadron at Hurlburt Field. He was a member of the squadron’s AC-130J Ghostrider aircrew, which loads the gunship’s 30 mm and 105 mm cannons during missions.
The State Attorney’s office prosecuted Duran and said in a news release that it accepts the jury’s verdict, which means the state “did not prove the criminal charge beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of every juror.”
The State Attorney’s office prosecuted Duran and said in a news release that it accepts the jury’s verdict, which means the state “did not prove the criminal charge beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of every juror.”
“We understand that this verdict will cause pain, anger, or disappointment for many people, particularly some members of the community who view Senior Airman Fortson’s death within a context of encounters nationally involving law enforcement,” the State Attorney’s office said. “Those reactions should not be dismissed.”
Duran was fired after an internal sheriff’s office investigation later determined his life was not in danger when he shot Fortson.
Duran’s attorney, Rod Smith, said the shooting was a police officer safety issue and that Duran went to Fortson’s apartment “to find out what was going on based on a complaint from a neighbor.”
“None of this needed to happen,” Smith told The Associated Press on Friday. “(Fortson) absolutely knew a police officer was at the door. Deputy Duran, himself, was also a victim of a terrible tragedy. He had followed his training. The guy answered the door with a semiautomatic pistol in his hand.”
It is highly unusual for Florida law enforcement officers to be charged for an on-duty killing — it has only happened four times in the last 35 years before Fortson’s killing. Even then, only one of those officers was convicted.
“Deputies perform essential and often dangerous work every day, and are entitled to the same presumption of innocence and fair process as everyone else accused of a crime,” the State Attorney’s office said. “At the same time, the authority to use deadly force must remain subject to independent review. Presenting disputed evidence to a jury is part of that accountability and is essential to public trust.”
This post was edited on 10/8/26 at 11:25 am
Posted on 10/8/26 at 11:23 am to RelicBatches86
quote:
Smith told The Associated Press on Friday. “(Fortson) absolutely knew a police officer was at the door.
If you know it’s a cop at the door and you open said door with a firearm in your hand, then you’re basically committing suicide by cop at that point.
Posted on 10/8/26 at 11:23 am to RelicBatches86
I mean, who opens the door with a gun in their hands.
Posted on 10/8/26 at 11:24 am to RelicBatches86
body cam
LINK
The lead-up
When the video begins, a Florida sheriff's deputy is driving in a car and then comes to a stop. He parks in front of a beige apartment complex with multiple buildings. The deputy then walks into a building there and talks with a man.
The deputy asks, "What's going on?"
"I'm not sure," the other man said. "I just was told to let her know if you guys come by. So, I'm gonna give her a quick call and let you guys know. I'll let her know."
"So, there was a fight going on or something," the deputy questioned.
The man said he was not present for any fight. The video then cuts to the deputy walking with a woman to another building. The deputy asks again if there was fighting.
A woman can be heard saying that she was told the fighting happens frequently but that it sounded like it was getting out of hand.
"Which door," the deputy questioned.
"I'm not sure. Two weeks ago, I was walking by their apartment basically on this side, and I was hearing some yelling, like, shut the f*** up, like you stupid B word and all this other stuff," the woman said to the deputy.
The woman said she also heard a slap but said at the time that she wasn't sure where it came from and didn't want to call the police.
The deputy again questioned which room it was, and the woman gave it to him. She said it was unit 1401. But before he goes up, he asks the woman to direct the other deputy that's coming through the area.
"You're going to go up to the 4th floor, and it's going to be on this side," the woman said out of frame of the video.
When the deputy gets off the elevator, he walks down to E 1401, as shown in the video.
The interaction
The deputy knocks on the door and steps away from it without announcing himself. He walks to the other side of the door and waits a few seconds. There are inaudible noises and sounds of mumbling that are hard to make out.
The deputy knocks again on the door -- announcing himself.
"Sheriff's Office. Open the door," the deputy said.
He knocks again and announces himself a second time.
The door opens.
"Step back," the deputy said.
Soon after this command, multiple gunshots ring out.
"Drop the gun! Drop the gun," the deputy yelled.
"It's over there," Fortson said.
"Drop the gun," the deputy repeated.
"I don't have it," Fortson can be heard stating.
The video clip ends with Fortson on the ground and the deputy telling him not to move. The deputy can heard asking for emergency services.
What the family's lawyers say
Civil Rights attorney for the family, Ben Crump, said that Fortson was on a FaceTime call with a woman at the time of the encounter. According to Crump, the unidentified woman said Fortson was alone in his apartment when he heard a knock on the door. He asked who was there but did not get a response.
A few minutes later, Fortson heard a louder knock but didn’t see anyone when he looked through the peephole, Crump said, citing the woman’s account. The woman said Fortson was concerned and went to retrieve his gun, which Crump said was legally owned.
LINK
The lead-up
When the video begins, a Florida sheriff's deputy is driving in a car and then comes to a stop. He parks in front of a beige apartment complex with multiple buildings. The deputy then walks into a building there and talks with a man.
The deputy asks, "What's going on?"
"I'm not sure," the other man said. "I just was told to let her know if you guys come by. So, I'm gonna give her a quick call and let you guys know. I'll let her know."
"So, there was a fight going on or something," the deputy questioned.
The man said he was not present for any fight. The video then cuts to the deputy walking with a woman to another building. The deputy asks again if there was fighting.
A woman can be heard saying that she was told the fighting happens frequently but that it sounded like it was getting out of hand.
"Which door," the deputy questioned.
"I'm not sure. Two weeks ago, I was walking by their apartment basically on this side, and I was hearing some yelling, like, shut the f*** up, like you stupid B word and all this other stuff," the woman said to the deputy.
The woman said she also heard a slap but said at the time that she wasn't sure where it came from and didn't want to call the police.
The deputy again questioned which room it was, and the woman gave it to him. She said it was unit 1401. But before he goes up, he asks the woman to direct the other deputy that's coming through the area.
"You're going to go up to the 4th floor, and it's going to be on this side," the woman said out of frame of the video.
When the deputy gets off the elevator, he walks down to E 1401, as shown in the video.
The interaction
The deputy knocks on the door and steps away from it without announcing himself. He walks to the other side of the door and waits a few seconds. There are inaudible noises and sounds of mumbling that are hard to make out.
The deputy knocks again on the door -- announcing himself.
"Sheriff's Office. Open the door," the deputy said.
He knocks again and announces himself a second time.
The door opens.
"Step back," the deputy said.
Soon after this command, multiple gunshots ring out.
"Drop the gun! Drop the gun," the deputy yelled.
"It's over there," Fortson said.
"Drop the gun," the deputy repeated.
"I don't have it," Fortson can be heard stating.
The video clip ends with Fortson on the ground and the deputy telling him not to move. The deputy can heard asking for emergency services.
What the family's lawyers say
Civil Rights attorney for the family, Ben Crump, said that Fortson was on a FaceTime call with a woman at the time of the encounter. According to Crump, the unidentified woman said Fortson was alone in his apartment when he heard a knock on the door. He asked who was there but did not get a response.
A few minutes later, Fortson heard a louder knock but didn’t see anyone when he looked through the peephole, Crump said, citing the woman’s account. The woman said Fortson was concerned and went to retrieve his gun, which Crump said was legally owned.
Posted on 10/8/26 at 11:37 am to RelicBatches86
quote:
A few minutes later, Fortson heard a louder knock but didn’t see anyone when he looked through the peephole, Crump said, citing the woman’s account. The woman said Fortson was concerned and went to retrieve his gun, which Crump said was legally owned.
So the home owner heard a knock, peeped out if his peep hole, then went and got his gun.
When he came back with his gun, and the deputy is at the door, did he not look a second time before opening the door? Seems unlikely that he wpuld not have.
I think the airman made a critical mistake, and the deputy, while not unlawfully unreasonable, was a little quick to shoot. It was a terrible tragedy.
I think the jury got it right, but I would not have been surprised if it had gone the other way. A jury from a blue state or blue city would have convicted the deputy, IMO.
This post was edited on 10/8/26 at 11:38 am
Posted on 10/8/26 at 11:46 am to Jimbeaux
quote:
I think the airman made a critical mistake, and the deputy, while not unlawfully unreasonable, was a little quick to shoot. It was a terrible tragedy.
I think I agree with this.
Definitely was a fast shoot. But he’s there for a domestic disturbance call and the dude answers the door gun-in-hand. So both are to blame, but the majority is on the resident IMO.
It sucks because it seems like 5 more seconds would’ve been enough time to sort things out and not have anybody shot. We’ll never know though.
Posted on 10/8/26 at 11:50 am to RelicBatches86
I mean who the frick answers the door with a gun in your hand when it's a cop. This is common sense.
This post was edited on 10/8/26 at 2:18 pm
Posted on 10/8/26 at 12:19 pm to CocomoLSU
quote:
Definitely was a fast shoot. But he’s there for a domestic disturbance call and the dude answers the door gun-in-hand. So both are to blame, but the majority is on the resident IMO.
You can’t admit it was a “fast shoot”, and not hold the deputy accountable.
There is no law against having a gun, or answering your door with a gun in your hand.
If the Airman had opened the door and seen the cop with his gun drawn and shot him, do you think he wouldn’t have been held accountable?
Posted on 10/8/26 at 12:39 pm to lsusa
quote:
You can’t admit it was a “fast shoot”, and not hold the deputy accountable.
I held them both accountable.
quote:
There is no law against having a gun, or answering your door with a gun in your hand.
I’m saying if someone knocks on my door and shouts “sheriff, open up,” I am not answering with a gun in my hand.
Do you agree that this could’ve been avoided had both men done things differently? Or just one?
And I’m not even “pro the police” in this scenario. I think it’s a sad situation all around and both were to blame.
Posted on 10/8/26 at 12:49 pm to lsusa
quote:
You can’t admit it was a “fast shoot”, and not hold the deputy accountable.
Actually, you can.
Because the line is subjective. The law uses the “reasonable man” standard, along with the “totality of the circumstances” measure.
Did the deputy have a reasonable belief that his life was in imminent danger as he approached what he reasonably suspected was a domestic violence situation and the suspect was armed with a handgun?
It’s a close call, and I can see it going either way.
Personally, I would have taken on the risk to myself and shouted commands to drop the weapon while watching for movement of his hand. That would not have saved me, however, if the homeowner had lifted his gun and shot me. We would likely have both been shot.
The deputy decided in a split second to not take that chance. His choice was reasonable even if it was different than mine.
Posted on 10/8/26 at 1:00 pm to CocomoLSU
quote:
Do you agree that this could’ve been avoided had both men done things differently? Or just one? And I’m not even “pro the police” in this scenario. I think it’s a sad situation all around and both were to blame.
I hold the trained law enforcement officer, who made a conscious decision to undertake a career where he knew he’d be putting his life in jeopardy, to a higher standard. Immediately shooting the man when he saw the gun does not meet that standard.
I believe the officers negligence caused the death of the airman. There should be some accountability for that beyond simply losing his job.
Posted on 10/8/26 at 1:34 pm to lsusa
quote:
I hold the trained law enforcement officer, who made a conscious decision to undertake a career where he knew he’d be putting his life in jeopardy, to a higher standard. Immediately shooting the man when he saw the gun does not meet that standard.
So you admit that he is in situations where his “life is in jeopardy,” but don’t think that responding to a domestic disturbance call where someone answers the door with a gun in his hand meets that criteria?
Posted on 10/8/26 at 1:40 pm to RelicBatches86
Seems like the most egregious infringement
Posted on 10/8/26 at 2:02 pm to Jimbeaux
quote:
Did the deputy have a reasonable belief that his life was in imminent danger as he approached what he reasonably suspected was a domestic violence situation and the suspect was armed with a handgun?
It’s not uncommon for law enforcement to get ambushed in these situations a suicide by cop goal by a perp.
One thing I would like to see is a shift towards specialized groups with specific training and equipment including vests & shields to avoid loss of life on both sides performing initial knock and secure in these situations along with them being clearly marked as cops with lights flashing (announce themselves as armed police loudly with wearing very visibly marked uniforms like the British do at least on their cop shows). Once person and/home home are secured they leave and allow other cops to handle the rest. Can’t do with every knock on a door, but some are definitely more problematic. Also add a higher threshold for warrants for going in dark or more hidden including no knocks which should also be done by highly trained and properly geared groups.
It would take more money as well as some better coordination and utilization of assets between local and county and state law enforcement.
At a minimum cops need to be doing less of this on their own. They should have someone covering them that they trust and that has been trained to not react until imminent danger of life is clear. Being alone on some of these kinds of calls makes threshold of being in reasonable fear of life much lower. Departments still have to hire enough to always have a back up for situations like these.
Posted on 10/8/26 at 2:20 pm to RelicBatches86
quote:
A few minutes later, Fortson heard a louder knock but didn’t see anyone when he looked through the peephole, Crump said
Once again, Ben Crump is providing inaccurate information to the public.
About 40 seconds elapsed between the first knock and the third and final knock.
Posted on 10/8/26 at 2:27 pm to Ghost of Colby
quote:
Once again, Ben Crump is providing inaccurate information to the public.
About 40 seconds elapsed between the first knock and the third and final knock.
When Crump is involved I start out believing the opposite of what he says until I can find out independently what is BS, what has a some truth to it, and what is factual, and I then draw my own conclusions. Thats if I have the time and the inclination to look into whatever he is peddling. If I don’t I just go with the opposite of Crump which is usually correct anyway.
Posted on 10/8/26 at 2:38 pm to Breauxsif
quote:
I mean who the frick answers the door with a gun in your hand when it's a cop. This is common sense.
Because the government is jumpy and have every right to kill you if exercising your rights makes them nervous?
Posted on 10/8/26 at 3:44 pm to CocomoLSU
quote:
So you admit that he is in situations where his “life is in jeopardy,” but don’t think that responding to a domestic disturbance call where someone answers the door with a gun in his hand meets that criteria?
A law enforcement officer should exercise better judgment than the average citizen in relation to the level of threat presented. A person simply having a gun in their hand opening the door to his home does not justify being killed.
The law enforcement officer panicked and shot the guy. If the average citizen knocked on someone’s door, and then shot the person who answered with a gun in their hand, they’d be in jail.
Posted on 10/8/26 at 3:48 pm to RelicBatches86
If an officer is at your door and you open the door with a gun in your hand, it’s gonna end badly.
This isn’t about agreeing or disagreeing with the situation.
It’s like holding a gun in your hand in your car on a traffic stop. Can you? Yes. Is it a really bad idea? Absolutely
This isn’t about agreeing or disagreeing with the situation.
It’s like holding a gun in your hand in your car on a traffic stop. Can you? Yes. Is it a really bad idea? Absolutely
Page 1 of 1
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News