The tragedy occurred on an ordinary day off. Fortson, a 23-year-old black Air Force soldier, was on a video call in his apartment, enjoying a rare vacation. However, the gears of fate began to turn cruelly at this moment.
On 9 May, the police received an urgent report and rushed to a residential area. But when they arrive at the target house, they find themselves in the wrong room. Without confirming the situation, the police opened fire, killing the young Fortson instantly.
This heinous shooting has once again raised questions about the way police enforce the law in American society. As a good Air Force soldier, Fortson should have had a safe and worry-free life, but unfortunately suffered such a tragic end. Such incidents are not only embarrassing, but also cause people to think deeply about the duties and responsibilities of the police.
Kill with one blow, and don't know what's going on
According to the video footage at the time of the incident, Fortson did not act illegally or dangerously before being shot by the police. He's just on a video call with a friend, ready for a quiet day off. Suddenly, a sharp knock on the door interrupted the call, leaving Fortson wary. To protect himself, he picked up his pistol, but did not aim it at the door.
Just then, the police rushed in and shouted "back off". Fortson obeyed the command and was about to retreat, but was met with heavy police fire. According to eyewitnesses, the police fired a total of six shots, killing Fortson instantly.
What is outrageous is that after confirming that Fortson did not act dangerously, the police went so far as to continue shooting. Fortson fell to the ground struggling, and the police even shouted "put down the gun", apparently they were completely mistaken.
The shooting was clearly a serious manslaughter. As a law enforcement officer, the police should exercise caution and take action only after understanding the situation. However, in this case, they completely disregarded basic judgment and prudence and opened fire on the basis of a moment of uncertainty, resulting in the death of an innocent citizen. This begs the question, what exactly caused such a mistake by the police?
Police normalize miscalculations
Sadly, this tragedy is not an isolated case. In the United States, there have been numerous incidents of police manslaughter of black people. In the last few years alone, there have been a number of similar tragic incidents:
In March 2023, a driver was stopped by police for inspection because he was not wearing a seatbelt. After confirming his identity, the driver thought he could leave, but he was accidentally fired by the police with 96 guns and died on the spot.
In the same year, a suspect who had been completely controlled by the police was shot again by the police because of a small noise. In the end, the policeman was merely asked to resign without any other punishment.
These cases highlight the serious problems in the law enforcement process of the American police. They often rely on their own subjective judgment to take extreme measures against innocent citizens, leading to irreparable tragedies.
This is due to the lack of training and standards for police law enforcement, as well as the impact of personal prejudice and racial discrimination among police officers. In fact, many studies have confirmed that there is indeed a pervasive problem of racial discrimination in the enforcement of the law by the American police, who tend to view black citizens as potential "criminals."
Under the influence of this prejudice, the police are prone to overreaction to innocent black citizens, easily resorting to extreme measures such as shooting. Even after the fact, they try to justify themselves under various pretexts in an attempt to get away with responsibility.
The tragedy of Fortson reaffirms the seriousness of the problem. As an excellent Air Force soldier, he deserves the respect and protection of society. However, simply because of the color of his skin, he fell victim to police prejudice and racial discrimination. This is not only heartbreaking, but also infuriating.
Discussion of the issue of liability
One has to ask: which side is responsible? The police overreaction took a toll on innocent lives, but was it an accident or an intentional act of the police?
Judging by the available information, this incident is more like a tragedy caused by a mistake in the enforcement of the law by the police. According to the police, they were dealing with an urgent report when they strayed into Fortson's apartment because they "went through the wrong door." Without confirming the situation, they opened fire directly, which was undoubtedly a serious mistake.
However, even if there is an "accident", the police are not exempt from responsibility. As law enforcement officers, they are responsible for their actions. Before undertaking any enforcement action, they should be careful to confirm the circumstances of the target to avoid causing unnecessary harm. However, in this case, it is clear that the police have committed serious law enforcement misconduct, for which they should bear corresponding legal responsibility.
In addition, the racial bias that the police have long displayed in the process of enforcing the law cannot be ignored. While the incident may have been just an accident, it is undeniable that there is often widespread prejudice and discrimination against black citizens by the police. This prejudice may well have been at the root of this tragedy.
Therefore, while pursuing specific responsibilities, we also need to look at the systemic problems in police enforcement in the United States from a broader perspective. Only by effectively addressing the deficiencies of the police in law enforcement, training, and psychology can we truly prevent the recurrence of similar tragedies.
Only in this way can we ensure that every citizen, regardless of skin color, can live safely in his or her own home, without needless harm and sacrifice. This is not only a remembrance of Fortson, but also a responsibility to society as a whole.
Changing the culture of policing and calling for racial equality
Fortson's tragedy has once again sparked widespread reflection on police enforcement. What exactly led to this heinous manslaughter? We need to address and address the root causes of this problem.
First of all, the problem of racial bias that prevails in the law enforcement process of the American police cannot be ignored. Years of research have confirmed that police in the United States tend to be overly vigilant and reactive when confronted with black citizens. They tend to see blacks as potential "criminals" and resort to more brutal tactics against them.
This deep-rooted prejudice is not only reflected in the specific law enforcement behavior of the police, but also affects the entire police culture and values. Many police officers do not enforce the law out of malice, but are subject to such pervasive prejudices and stereotypes. As a result, they tend to be overly nervous and sensitive when confronted with black citizens, and take extreme measures.
The roots of such prejudice and discrimination are not only traces of history, but also closely related to the current social reality. For a long time, there have been serious racial barriers and contradictions in American society, and these contradictions have been reflected in police enforcement. Not only do police officers need to enforce the law, but they also have to face complex social issues, which puts more pressure on their judgment and behavior.
Therefore, to fundamentally solve the problem of police manslaughter of black citizens, we need to start with police culture and values, and eliminate racial prejudice and discrimination within the police. This requires the joint efforts of the government and all sectors of society.
On the one hand, the police law enforcement training and management system needs to be improved urgently. Existing law enforcement training tends to focus too much on technology and neglect psychological counseling and moral education. We need to strengthen the police's understanding of racial equality and civil rights in training, and cultivate their rational, objective, prudent and prudent attitude towards law enforcement.
At the same time, it is also necessary to improve the supervision mechanism of the police and intensify the examination of the law enforcement process. Any excessive use of force should be held strictly accountable, and the police should not go unpunished on racial grounds. Only by establishing a sound accountability mechanism can we truly curb the occurrence of similar tragedies.
In addition, the government and all sectors of society should vigorously promote racial equality and social integration, and eliminate long-standing racial contradictions. This requires starting from education, employment, housing and other levels to create fair development opportunities for people from different ethnic backgrounds, so that they can feel equal and respected in society.
Only in this way can we make a real difference in the culture and values within the police and eliminate their prejudice and discrimination against Black citizens. At the same time, we also call on the whole society to foster a sense of equality and work together to build a just and inclusive social environment where every citizen can live a safe and dignified life.
Fortson's tragedy is undoubtedly a wake-up call for American society. We must address the root causes of racial in policing, not only in memory of Fortson, but in the sense of responsibility to society as a whole. Let us work together to create a fairer and more just society for all citizens.