Police officers need absolute immunity, just like presidents, otherwise they'll constantly be worrying that someone will indict them for gunning down innocent people in their own homes.
I watched the body cam yesterday. So I have a few comments and a couple corrections to this article.
First, Florida is not an open carry state as this article states. We are a concealed carry state with a couple exceptions like when hunting fishing or camping.
Second, I’ve heard repeatedly that the police went to the wrong apartment. In the video the Karen who met the cop on his way to the unit says it’s 1401 and the video clearly shows 1401 when the cop arrives. It’s entirely possible the Karen gave the wrong number though.
Now having gotten those two points out of the way I’ll give my opinion on why this was not a justifiable shoot.
The officer knocked multiple time but did not announce himself as law enforcement each time, he also kept stepping to the side out of view. Claiming they announced as a defense isn’t legit in todays world of A/C. Back in the olden days it was perfectly legit because everyone had their windows open to get airflow and a breeze. That’s no longer the case and it’s hard to hear those announcements when you’re not right up on the door.
It is important to point out that when the officer approached he stood listening at the door and their was no fighting, loud noises or anything that would cause a reasonable person alarm.
I believe a big part of this is that the officer was alone. Anyone who has police videos may recall that you never see one officer respond to a domestic, they always wait for backup because of the increased danger of these kinds of calls.
Since the deputy didn’t hear anything requiring immediate response or exigent entry he should have waited for backup. By not waiting he creating a scenario where he would be more fearful because he’s alone than if he had waited two minutes for his backup.
As for the shooting itself, the door wasn’t kicked in or forced open, you see it open from the inside and the airmen appears standing their with a handgun in a relaxed position down by his side. This is perfectly legal though not recommended. In that moment the deputy opened fire blasting him 4 or 5 times and then only after he lay dying ordered him to drop the weapon which he had already done.
Probably should have started with that command, genius.
Having been born and raised in Florida I would be surprised if the cop gets in trouble. Even though the Supreme Court has ruled before that the mere presence of a firearm alone isn’t enough to permit deadly force we have witnessed a massive shift in police training in recent decades.
It went from deadly force is ok when faced with deadly force to deadly force is ok if you fear for your life. So any pvssy with a badge who can’t analyze a situation fast enough and just starts blasting is patted on the back and given a heroes welcome as well as a paid vacation.
Hopefully the family gets compensated for their loss even if they don’t receive justice.
I’m willing to bet that if Airman Fortson had been White this would have ended differently. These terribly frightened law enforcement types seem to be a lot more trigger happy with Black individuals, especially Black men. Meanwhile, did they ever figure out what was happening at the “right address “? Was the “right address “ even in the vicinity of Airman Fortson’s home?
It's imperative that there be civilian review boards to investigate police shootings and abuse of authority issues. Board that are in no way connected to law enforcement and has hard subpoena powers to investigate,
Until police are held accountable AND also retrained to not shoot without speaking to the person first this is going to continue. And of course he was Black. They were probably prowling the neighborhood, it was boring so they thought, let's go kill some #i***er.
Especially galling that this is the EXACT SCENARIO conservatives and gun nuts are always jizzing themselves about not being able to do if they don’t have a gun for protection. Yet somehow when it’s a young Black man, he was still a threat. In his own house.
I suppose Roger should have opened fire into the door with an AK-47 when the cops pounded on it. Stand your ground, and whatnot. Fucking cops. Fucking Florida.
Ugh. Before I even read the headline, I saw a picture of a Black man and my first thought was "fuck, there's been another murder by the cops." And I was right. I hate this.
The sad truth is that keeping a gun or guns in your house doubles the risk of someone being killed, either with your own weapon, or by police who see you holding the weapon. The risk is more than doubled if the gun owner is a Person of Color.
People living with handgun owners are seven times more likely to be shot by their spouse or intimate partner, and 80% to 85% of those victims are female, according to several different studies.
And THIS is why I refuse my husband's request to have a gun. We have a pretty secluded home in the western Sierra's and for over 20 years there has never been a need for one. Oh sure, we see bears but they are on the camera at night when we are inside. And that is the most dangerous thing we have seen.
And, if they had time to hide, how did they also not have time to determine that whatever disturbance (which is a bullshit made up excuse AFTER the fact) was no longer occurring?
Police officers need absolute immunity, just like presidents, otherwise they'll constantly be worrying that someone will indict them for gunning down innocent people in their own homes.
Ta, Robyn. What a tragedy. May Fortson's memory always be a blessing.
I watched the body cam yesterday. So I have a few comments and a couple corrections to this article.
First, Florida is not an open carry state as this article states. We are a concealed carry state with a couple exceptions like when hunting fishing or camping.
Second, I’ve heard repeatedly that the police went to the wrong apartment. In the video the Karen who met the cop on his way to the unit says it’s 1401 and the video clearly shows 1401 when the cop arrives. It’s entirely possible the Karen gave the wrong number though.
Now having gotten those two points out of the way I’ll give my opinion on why this was not a justifiable shoot.
The officer knocked multiple time but did not announce himself as law enforcement each time, he also kept stepping to the side out of view. Claiming they announced as a defense isn’t legit in todays world of A/C. Back in the olden days it was perfectly legit because everyone had their windows open to get airflow and a breeze. That’s no longer the case and it’s hard to hear those announcements when you’re not right up on the door.
It is important to point out that when the officer approached he stood listening at the door and their was no fighting, loud noises or anything that would cause a reasonable person alarm.
I believe a big part of this is that the officer was alone. Anyone who has police videos may recall that you never see one officer respond to a domestic, they always wait for backup because of the increased danger of these kinds of calls.
Since the deputy didn’t hear anything requiring immediate response or exigent entry he should have waited for backup. By not waiting he creating a scenario where he would be more fearful because he’s alone than if he had waited two minutes for his backup.
As for the shooting itself, the door wasn’t kicked in or forced open, you see it open from the inside and the airmen appears standing their with a handgun in a relaxed position down by his side. This is perfectly legal though not recommended. In that moment the deputy opened fire blasting him 4 or 5 times and then only after he lay dying ordered him to drop the weapon which he had already done.
Probably should have started with that command, genius.
Having been born and raised in Florida I would be surprised if the cop gets in trouble. Even though the Supreme Court has ruled before that the mere presence of a firearm alone isn’t enough to permit deadly force we have witnessed a massive shift in police training in recent decades.
It went from deadly force is ok when faced with deadly force to deadly force is ok if you fear for your life. So any pvssy with a badge who can’t analyze a situation fast enough and just starts blasting is patted on the back and given a heroes welcome as well as a paid vacation.
Hopefully the family gets compensated for their loss even if they don’t receive justice.
I’m willing to bet that if Airman Fortson had been White this would have ended differently. These terribly frightened law enforcement types seem to be a lot more trigger happy with Black individuals, especially Black men. Meanwhile, did they ever figure out what was happening at the “right address “? Was the “right address “ even in the vicinity of Airman Fortson’s home?
"Seem to be"?
Shoot or don't shoot? It's the grocery bag test 100% of the time.
If Forston had shot the deputy, would he have been protected by Florida’s SYG law?
He was Black, so no way
It's imperative that there be civilian review boards to investigate police shootings and abuse of authority issues. Board that are in no way connected to law enforcement and has hard subpoena powers to investigate,
I have to wonder if this particular department received so-called Warrior training given how frightened and trigger happy they are.
Swear to Someone, I'm beginning to think cops are just the biggest chickenshits around, given how easily terrified they seem to be of everything.
Fox News soon: "Roger Fortson was no angel…"
They'll be torn enough to not even cover it at all.
1. Gotta support the police.
2. Gotta support the military.
They'll choose option C and simply never mention it to their viewers at all.
Reluctant upfist.
Until police are held accountable AND also retrained to not shoot without speaking to the person first this is going to continue. And of course he was Black. They were probably prowling the neighborhood, it was boring so they thought, let's go kill some #i***er.
Very sad and completely avoidable.
Especially galling that this is the EXACT SCENARIO conservatives and gun nuts are always jizzing themselves about not being able to do if they don’t have a gun for protection. Yet somehow when it’s a young Black man, he was still a threat. In his own house.
I suppose Roger should have opened fire into the door with an AK-47 when the cops pounded on it. Stand your ground, and whatnot. Fucking cops. Fucking Florida.
Light 'em up!
At least with an AK-47, the cops would have assumed it was a white guy and they would have backed down.
BAR or gtfo!
Godddammitsomuch
Ugh. Before I even read the headline, I saw a picture of a Black man and my first thought was "fuck, there's been another murder by the cops." And I was right. I hate this.
The sad truth is that keeping a gun or guns in your house doubles the risk of someone being killed, either with your own weapon, or by police who see you holding the weapon. The risk is more than doubled if the gun owner is a Person of Color.
People living with handgun owners are seven times more likely to be shot by their spouse or intimate partner, and 80% to 85% of those victims are female, according to several different studies.
And THIS is why I refuse my husband's request to have a gun. We have a pretty secluded home in the western Sierra's and for over 20 years there has never been a need for one. Oh sure, we see bears but they are on the camera at night when we are inside. And that is the most dangerous thing we have seen.
the applicability of stand your ground is obviously melanin related.
ACAB
Also too, one of the bare minimum requirements is that the police FUCKING IDENTIFY THEMSELVES when seeking entry.
EXACTLY! They hid from his view even.
And, if they had time to hide, how did they also not have time to determine that whatever disturbance (which is a bullshit made up excuse AFTER the fact) was no longer occurring?
Exactly. At this point they certainly could have ascertained that the apt was quiet except for one person asking who’s there.