Former Okaloosa County deputy Eddie Duran was charged with manslaughter in the fatal shooting of Air Force Senior Airman Roger Fortson. The judge set Duran’s bond at $100,000 and several conditions, including no contact with Fortson’s family. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. Duran turned himself in and is currently detained at the Escambia County jail following the shooting at Fortson’s apartment in Fort Walton Beach. The body camera footage shows Duran shooting Fortson, who was holding a gun pointed at the ground when he answered the door.
Fortson’s family and their attorneys have claimed that Duran went to the wrong apartment as Fortson was home alone with his dog when he was killed. Records show that deputies had never been called to Fortson’s apartment before the shooting. Fortson, 23, was stationed at Hurlburt Field Air Force Base and his family is from DeKalb County, Georgia. Despite the charges, Fortson’s family expressed that they do not find comfort in the developments and that the fight for justice is ongoing.
Ben Crump, the civil rights attorney representing the Fortson family, released a video recorded by Fortson’s girlfriend in the moments after the shooting, where Fortson can be heard groaning and saying, “I can’t breathe.” The sheriff’s office initially claimed that Duran had acted in self-defense but later fired him following an internal affairs investigation. The investigation concluded that Fortson did not make any hostile or attacking movements, and the use of deadly force was not justified. Fortson’s mother criticized the sheriff’s office and the delayed announcement of charges against Duran, saying that while she welcomed the charge, it did not bring her any comfort.
State Attorney Ginger Bowden Madden announced the charges a few days after Sheriff Eric Aden was re-elected. The body camera video shows Duran standing outside Fortson’s apartment, knocking on the door without identifying himself, and then announcing himself after a few seconds. Fortson answers the door holding a gun, pointed at the ground, and Duran shoots him almost immediately. Fortson’s girlfriend stated that neither she nor Fortson were aware that Duran was law enforcement and did not hear him identify himself before the shooting. Following Duran’s charges, the sheriff’s office stated that it stands by its decision to terminate Duran, has been transparent throughout the investigation process, and wishes for Fortson’s family to have comfort as the case proceeds.
The use of deadly force by Duran was found to be unjustified in the sheriff’s office internal affairs investigation. Duran described perceiving aggression and anger in Fortson’s eyes and believing that he was going to be shot, prompting him to act first. The investigation ultimately concluded that there was no reasonable cause for the use of deadly force against Fortson. Fortson’s family, represented by civil rights attorney Ben Crump, expressed hope that the charges against Duran would lead to real justice for the Fortson family. Despite the charges, the Fortson family continues to seek justice for Roger Fortson, who they described as an exceptional airman and individual who did not commit any crime on the night he was fatally shot.in the moments after Duran was charged.
