Ben Crump Hired by Family of US Airman Killed by Florida Sheriff Deputy

Newsweak ^ | 8 May 2024 | Monica Sager

[Recovering_Democrat]

The family of a 23-year-old US Airman who was fatally shot by a Florida sheriff's deputy retained prominent civil rights attorney Ben Crump.

Roger Fortson was shot and killed inside his apartment on Friday when an Okaloosa County Sheriff's deputy responding to a disturbance call "reacted in self-defense after he encountered a 23-year-old man armed with a gun."

"We demand accountability for those responsible for his death," Crump said in an email to Newsweek. "And we stand in solidarity with Roger's family and friends as they navigate this unimaginable loss."

[Celtic Conservative]

You have the right. But whether or not it’s a good idea is something else. Just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should do it, or that it’s prudent to do so.

CC

[cnsmom]

I smell a Soros Summer of encampment Camp heading for FL. Crump is the Paul Revere of the liberal left.

[Gay State Conservative]

A distinct possibility. I'll wager that Rat Party Headquarters is looking closely at this incident at this very moment and is in touch with the race pimp Crump.

[TonyM]

The Airman did nothing justify the policeman’s actions and the family deserves every dollar they can get. Next to postal employees the police today are the least trained workers in the country. They are just given a badge and gun and allowed to terrorize the people that they are supposed to protect. They have no understanding of citizens rights and couldn’t care less. Most are power hungry tyrants who enjoy bullying citizens. No doubt they want him relive their days as bullies in grade school.

[T.B. Yoits]

One doesn’t have to open the door.

[Red Badger]

Yep it’s a local story bigtime here. In fact it happened right down the street from my home.

Deputy is in deep doo-doo.......................

[Drago]

Aaah, there is the rub...deciding on what is “prudent”...in this or similar cases going to the door with a handgun in a holster on your belt or in your hand at your side would be considered “prudent” by most armed homeowners I would think.

The local P.D. here has the 911 dispatcher tell the homeowner to put the firearm away as they pull up on the (hopefully correct) address for “prowler” calls. Wrong addresses make for issues...I had the P.D. knock on my door after dark looking for a cell phone 911 caller...got the wrong address due to 911 cell phone tracking “margin of error” it was the next door renter’s house. But depending on the hour (i.e. after midnight) I go to the door/take out the trash with a 4 D-cell Maglite in hand. I save the shotgun in the bedroom for “special occasions”.

[cyclotic]

Unless I could see a badge and a marked patrol car I’m not opening my door at 2am for some guy yelling that he’s police. Certainly not opening the door unarmed.

[napscoordinator]

If this was a first “going to the wrong house” situation, I think it’d be more sympathetic. But they do this way too much all over the country.

[napscoordinator]

Yeah I’m sure the police scheduled this killing of an innocent military man to upset the population. Sometimes it’s amazing around here.

[cnsmom]

There has been much abortion narrative spent in FL recently, time to to toss in a pre election race bomb to stir things up and attract the media.

[napscoordinator]

We would on FR if someone posts it. I only heard of this story on here.

[roving]

Going to be another cop getting away with murder.

[Bulwinkle]

Yes, the airman has a gun pointed to the ground …. Then the officer shot him six times, only after shooting him six times did the officer shout drop the gun.

This ink has a still of the airman with the gun and also the full body cam video

https://weartv.com/news/local/bodycam-video-shows-okaloosa-county-deputy-shoot-kill-air-force-airman

Quite clear that the officer overreacted; The airman had the gun pointed to the ground not at the officer and the airman did not act aggressively at all

[PallMal]

I kinda vaguely remember a case in upstate NY around 15 or so years ago, where a black college student (maybe Ithaca or New Paltz) was killed by cops.

The family hired, as what you mentioned, a low-profile attorney, there was no racial component involved, no "no justice no peace" demonstrations, etc. I believe the family won the case.

[SharpRightTurn]

“prominent civil rights attorney Ben Crump” = Shakedown.

[bamahead]

That video shows a murder. The Airman did absolutely nothing that was a threat to that officer. He overreacted to the mere sight of a firearm.

[Recovering_Democrat]

Yes. In his right hand.

[Bulwinkle]

Yep, but manslaughter:

“ Manslaughter is killing someone without planning the crime ahead of time or in a situation where killing was not intentional. Murder is killing someone by planning the crime ahead of time.”
https://www.lawinfo.com/resources/criminal-defense/murders-and-manslaughters.html#:~:text=Manslaughter%20is%20killing%20someone%20without,the%20crime%20ahead%20of%20time.

[Theoria]

Yep. That poor fella could have been any FReeper. Cop bangs on door and intentionally doesn't identify or present himself in the peep hole at the initial knock. Incredibly bad shoot. There wasn't a threat, and a legal resident should be able to hold a gun in their hand on their property.