(16 May 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Decatur, Georgia – 16 May 2024
1. SOUNDBITE (English) Conseulla Childs, Attended Visitation for Airman Fortson:
"It’s like wow, here we go. Another young person killed whether it’s in the line of duty or not, regardless or race, I just really hate seeing young people lose their life especially at such an early age. He had so much to live for, so much to look forward to, so much to offer to the world. To keep losing our young people- it’s just sad. It just saddened me."
++BLACK FRAMES++
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Conseulla Childs, Attended Visitation for Airman Fortson:
"I’m a parent of two adult children. I’m a grandparent of five and just to ever get that call when your children are young – it’s heartbreaking. I can just imagine getting that call to say, ‘Hey, you have to bury your child,’ and give your child a home going before your time. It’s just heartbreaking to ever get that news, so I just wanted to come and pay my respects."
++BLACK FRAMES++
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Charles Dorsey, Attended Visitation for Airman Fortson:
"It was a young man who reminded me of when I was in the Air Force. Matter fact, he has the same rank that I had when I left the Air Force. Only thing about it though is he had wings, I didn’t. He’s just a young man and tragic, tragic thing that happened."
++ENDS ON SOUNDBITE++
STORYLINE:
Family, friends, and community members of the Black U.S. Air Force Airman Roger Fortson honored and paid respects during an open visitation in Decatur Thursday.
Fortson, 23, was shot May 3 by an Okaloosa County sheriff’s deputy in his apartment. Sheriff’s officials say the deputy acted in self-defense- Fortson had a gun, pointed down, while responding to a call of a disturbance in progress at the apartment complex.
The family’s attorney, civil rights lawyer Ben Crump, and Fortson’s family contend that the deputy went to the wrong unit and the shooting was unjustified.
"It was a young man who reminded me of when I was in the Air Force. Matter fact, he has the same rank that I had when I left the Air Force," said Charles Dorsey outside of Donald Trimble Mortuary. "Only thing about it though is he had wings, I didn’t. He’s just a young man and tragic, tragic thing that happened."
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