Law enforcement official in the U.S. accused of firing upon Black male individuals
In the Sunshine State of Florida, an officer by the name of Eddie Duran was recently hit with manslaughter charges following a deadly incident in May. The victim was a 23-year-old African-American soldier named Roger Fortson, who was residing in the apartment. According to the state attorney Ginger Bowden Madden, if convicted, Duran could be facing up to three decades behind bars.
The tragic incident unfolded when Duran responded to a report of a possible altercation. Fortson, who was speaking with his girlfriend via video chat, opened the door while keeping a gun pointed at the ground. In a matter of seconds, Duran responded with six consecutive gunshots.
According to the investigation reports, Duran claimed that Fortson didn't pose any physical threat. The investigation also revealed that Fortson had not aimed his gun at the officer.
Police misconduct is an infrequent occurrence
Although police brutality, often targeting African Americans, garners widespread discontent and protests across the US, charges against the officers are a rarity. According to the Police Violence Report, only ten officers out of at least 1,247 fatal police incidents were brought to book for misconduct last year.
The most recent high-profile case was the death of George Floyd in May 2020. Floyd, an African-American, passed away due to asphyxiation, as a white officer knelt on his neck for more than six minutes. The officer involved was sentenced to more than two decades in prison for murder in 2021.
Welcoming the indictment, attorney Ben Crump, representing Fortson's family, said, "This should serve as a wake-up call for police officers nationwide that they took a sacred oath to protect and serve, and their actions have consequences, particularly when they result in the loss of precious human life."
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The European Union expressed its concern over the rising instances of police misconduct in the United States, particularly those involving African Americans. In response to the case of Roger Fortson, the EU issued a statement, underscoring the importance of accountability in law enforcement.
