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Funeral Held for Airman Roger Fortson, Killed by Florida Deputy

Hundreds gathered in Georgia to honor the 23-year-old, whose death has raised questions about police conduct and racial bias.

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U.S. Air Force personnel stand near the coffin of slain airman Roger Fortson during his funeral near Atlanta on May 17, 2024.
Trial lawyer Benjamin Crump speaks as the family of slain airman Roger Fortson look on during a news conference describing details of the airman's death, Thursday, May 16, 2024, in Stonecrest, Ga. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Overview

  • Roger Fortson, a Black senior airman, was shot six times by a deputy at his Florida apartment on May 3.
  • Fortson's family and civil rights advocates argue the shooting was unjustified and call for accountability.
  • The deputy involved has not been publicly identified and is on administrative leave pending investigation.
  • Fortson's funeral was attended by numerous Air Force members and broadcast globally to military bases.
  • The incident has reignited debates on police treatment of Black individuals in their own homes.