Family and friends of Senior Airman Roger Fortson, along with dozens of Air Force members, came together Friday to honor the serviceman, who was shot and killed in his Florida home by a sheriff’s deputy on May 3.

Roger Fortson celebration of life

Fortson, 23, was in his home in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, when he was shot six times by an Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office deputy, according to law enforcement authorities.

At Friday’s celebration of life at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, Fortson was laid out wearing his Air Force uniform and his coffin was draped with the American flag.

After the service, airmen saluted as Fortson’s casket was carried to a beautiful horse carriage and led away from the church.

Wonderful human being

At the funeral, speakers spoke about how Fortson transformed himself from a fun-loving teenager into a young man with a sense of purpose.

“He was one of our gifted students,” said Fortson’s former principal, Loukisha Walker, of Ronald E. McNair High School.

Fortson was “a man of honor, a man of integrity, a man of courage,” said Col. Patrick Dierig, commander of the First Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field, Fla., speaking at the funeral.

Tragic incident

On May 3, police responded to a call of a disturbance around 4:30 p.m., according to a released statement from the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office.

Fortson was shot six times by the deputy

Sheriff Eric Aden of the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office played the body camera footage of the deputy who shot Fortson in a press conference last week.

In the video, the deputy can be heard announcing twice that he is with the sheriff’s office. Fortson allegedly opens the door for the deputy with what appears to be a gun in his hand. The officer shot Fortson six times within seconds of the door opening. Fortson later succumbed to his injuries, according to the sheriff’s office.

“Hearing sounds of a disturbance, he reacted in self-defense after he encountered a 23-year-old man armed with a gun,” according to a sheriff’s office statement. “This was after the deputy had identified himself as law enforcement.”

The deputy involved has been put on administrative leave.

There is an ongoing investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and the state attorney’s office, according to the sheriff’s office.

Watch US Airman Roger Fortson’s celebration of life

San Francisco’s Harvey ‘Terry’ Williams was a victim of not one, but two hate crimes.

San Francisco hate crime

On the morning of April 26th, he was delivered a package containing a black doll with a noose wrapped around its neck, with his name and a picture of his face. The doll, along with the other contents of the package, were covered in horrifying racial phrases and slurs.

A week later, he received a second racist package containing similar items, but this time the threats were escalated.

San Francisco police say they’re investigating both incidents.

Neighbors have rallied behind Williams, helping him build a network of security cameras to help keep a closer eye on their area.

GoFundMe

A GoFundMe was launched to help pay for security cameras, help Terry relocate until the police know more, and help take some financial pressure off the family during a very difficult and scary time.

The family of Ralph Yarl has filed a civil lawsuit against Andrew Lester, the 85-year-old white man who shot the teen last year on his doorstep, along with Lester’s homeowners association.

Ralph Yarl family sues

The lawsuit, filed by Yarl’s mother Cleo Nagbe in the circuit court of Clay County, Missouri, accuses Lester and the Highland Acres Homes Association, Inc. of “careless and negligent conduct.”

“At all times relevant, Plaintiff (Ralph Yarl) never posed or issued a threat to Defendant, Andrew Lester,” the lawsuit states, adding the Highland Acres Homes Association “was aware of or should have been aware of Defendant, Andrew Lester’s, propensity for violence, access to dangerous weapons and racial animus.”

Yarl’s mother said in a news release that the case is not just about seeking justice for her son. By including the Highland Acres Homes Association, Inc., Nagbe said the lawsuit “underscores the importance of collective responsibility in safeguarding our communities.”

“Their knowledge of a potentially dangerous individual in the neighborhood without taking adequate precautions is unacceptable,” Nagbe wrote. “This case is not just about seeking justice for Ralph but about advocating for systemic changes that prioritize the safety and well-being of all children.”

Nagbe said she also hopes the civil suit will create a conversation about the “importance of responsible gun ownership and community safety measures of using words, not weapons.”

Suspect

Lester has pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree assault and armed criminal action.

He was released on $200,000 bond and his trial is set to begin October 7.

Ralph Yarl shooting incident

On April 13, 2023, Ralph Yarl, now 17, went to the wrong home while trying to pick up his younger siblings. After ringing the doorbell, Ralph was shot in the head and arm.

Lester was detained the night of the shooting but released two hours later. After a public outcry, he was arrested and charged nearly a week later.

The 85-year-old claims he was scared to death of the boy’s size. Meanwhile, Yarl is 5ft8in and 140 pounds.

Yarl survived the shooting with serious injuries. Those close to the family said he had a prognosis of a full recovery, but may possibly suffer long-term brain issues.

According to the civil lawsuit, the teenager “suffered and sustained permanent injuries, endured pain and suffering of a temporary and permanent nature, experienced disability and losses of normal life activities, was obligated to spend large sums of money for medical and attention and suffered other losses and damages.”