Who is Roger Fortson? US Airman Killed by Florida Sheriff's Officer

The US service member fatally shot by a Florida sheriff's deputy on Friday has been identified by the Air Force as Senior Airman Roger Fortson.

Fortson, 23, was assigned to the 4th Special Operations Squadron at Hurlburt Field, Fla., according to the Air Force. He entered active duty on Nov. 19, 2019.

Dozens wrote heartfelt messages on the Hurburt Field's Facebook post about Fortson describing him as a "phenomenal human" who "always had a smile on his face." One of his instructors, U.S. Air Force Tech Sgt. Curtis Lassiter called him a "very bright young man," who was "one of the best students to go through training."

"Roger was a very humble and mellow guy," said his cousin, Keon Johnson. "He was always happy and smiling."

Johnson called Forston "very, very smart," recalling his 5th grade Criterion-Reference Competency Test scores were "extremely high and exceeded the standard."

"I was so shocked because I never saw anything like it," Johnsons aid. "I knew then my cousin was very special and could be or do whatever his heart desired."

Forston loved playing video games and enjoyed football.

"He definitely didn't deserve what happened to him," Johnson said.

He served as a gunner on the AC-130J Ghostrider, providing close air support and armed reconnaissance.

How deadly officer-involved shooting unfolded

A deputy responding to a disturbance call "reacted in self-defense after he encountered a 23-year-old man armed with a gun," the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office said in a news release on Friday.

Forston, who was from Atlanta, was at his off-base apartment on Racetrack Road when the shooting happened around 4:30 p.m., according to the Air Force.

Fortson was taken to the hospital, where he died.

The deputy was placed on paid administrative leave, "pending the outcome of a formal investigation and administrative review," according to the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office.

"To protect the integrity of the investigation, no other information will be released at this time," according to the Hurlburt Field Facebook page.

The 1st Special Operations Wing is providing casualty affairs services to Fortson's family and a base-wide message was sent on mental health resources.