Authorities have confirmed that the 16-year-old brother of a U.S. Air Force airman who was fatally shot by a Florida sheriff's deputy in May has been killed in a shooting incident in the Atlanta area. The tragic news was shared by civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who expressed the family's profound grief over the loss of another young member.
The victim, Andre Fortson, was discovered shot to death in the breezeway of an apartment complex in DeKalb County, near Atlanta's east side. According to DeKalb County police, the shooting occurred as two groups engaged in gunfire for reasons that remain unknown. A 20-year-old suspect has been arrested on aggravated assault charges in connection with the incident.
Neighbors reported hearing the sound of cars speeding away following the gunshots, leaving Andre Fortson fatally wounded at the scene. This tragic event comes just three months after the death of Roger Fortson, 23, who was killed by a sheriff's deputy in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. The body camera footage revealed that Roger Fortson was shot within seconds of answering the door while holding a handgun pointed towards the floor.
Following an internal investigation, the deputy involved in Roger Fortson's shooting was terminated by the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office. The investigation concluded that the use of deadly force was not justified as Roger Fortson did not pose a threat at the time of the incident.
The Fortson family, who hails from DeKalb County, is now mourning the loss of both Roger and Andre Fortson. Roger Fortson was stationed at the Air Force's Hurlburt Field at the time of his death, serving in the 4th Special Operations Squadron.
