The Law Enforcement Officer's Accuser Accuses Former Deputy of Manslaughter in Shooting Incident at Home Involving an Airman
Fort Walton Beach, Florida (AP) — A deputy from the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office was accused of manslaughter with a firearm following the fatal shooting of an airman who opened his apartment door while holding a gun, according to prosecutors on Friday.
The accused officer, Eddie Duran, was charged with the May 3 shooting death of Senior Airman Roger Fortson, as per Assistant State Attorney Greg Marcille's announcement. This charge is a serious felony carrying a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison.
As of early Friday afternoon, a warrant was issued for Duran's arrest, but he was not in custody at the time.
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, representing Fortson's family, stated, "This serves as a reminder to law enforcement officers everywhere that they swore an oath to protect and serve, and their actions carry consequences, particularly when life is lost."
Sabu Williams, the president of the local NAACP branch, said, "This is the best outcome we could hope for in this specific case."
Fortson, aged 23, was African American, while Duran identified himself as Hispanic on his voter registration, and the charging documents revealed this information as well.
According to authorities, Duran was dispatched to Fortson's Fort Walton Beach apartment in response to a false domestic disturbance report. After multiple knocks, Fortson opened the door while holding his gun at his side, pointing it downward. Duran is reported to have shot him multiple times before instructing him to drop the weapon.
Duran was terminated from his position on May 31 after a department investigation concluded that his life was not in danger when he opened fire. Duran's attorney, John Whitaker, was unavailable for comment at the time.
Florida law enforcement officers being charged for on-duty killings is an uncommon occurrence, with only four instances in the last 35 years prior to this incident. In fact, only one of those officers has been convicted.
Three police officers in Crestview, Okaloosa County, await trial on manslaughter charges for the 2021 death of Calvin Wilks Jr., who reportedly died as a result of being jolted with a stun gun by the officers. These officers have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Former Palm Beach Gardens officer Nouman Raja was convicted of manslaughter and attempted murder in 2015 for the shooting of Corey Jones, a Black man whose SUV had broken down on an interstate highway off-ramp. Testimony revealed that Raja, working undercover and in plain clothes, never identified himself as a police officer, prompting Jones to fear a robbery and attempt to flee, resulting in his death.
Broward sheriff's deputy was charged with manslaughter for the 2014 fatal shooting of a Black man holding an air rifle. The charge was later dropped by a judge.
Law enforcement officers often receive "qualified immunity" for their on-duty actions, making it challenging to charge and convict them for questionable shootings. The US Supreme Court said officers can be convicted only if their conduct is proven to be illegal and they should have been aware they were violating "clearly established" law.
In a statement, the sheriff's office confirmed they stood by their decision to terminate Duran and maintained their transparency throughout the case.
Duran began his law enforcement career as a military police officer in the Army before joining an Oklahoma police department in 2015. He then worked for the Okaloosa County sheriff's office from July 2019 to 2021, resigning and then rejoining the force in 2023.
Okaloosa personnel records showed that Duran was reprimanded in 2021 for failing to complete his assignment to confirm the addresses of three registered sex offenders by visiting their homes. He was also disciplined for leaving the school before the final bell and students' departure, violating Florida's requirement for an armed guard to be on campus during class hours.
Fortson's apartment complex was approximately 8 miles from Hurlburt Field, where he worked as a special missions aviator for the 4th Special Operations Squadron on an AC-130J Ghostrider gunship. His roles included loading the plane's cannons during battles. He was awarded an Air Medal with combat device, typically given for 20 flights in a combat zone or conspicuous valor or achievement in a single mission.
Duran visited Fortson's apartment complex in response to a false domestic disturbance report on May 3. Footage from Duran's body camera shows his interaction with an apartment manager who directed him to Fortson's fourth-floor unit due to frequent arguments. However, Fortson, with no criminal record and no guests that afternoon, lived alone and was on a video call with his girlfriend, who confirmed there was no argument and Fortson was playing a video game.
Deputies had never been summoned to Fortson's apartment before, as indicated by 911 records, but they had attended a nearby unit 10 times in the last 8 months, with one incident being a domestic dispute.
Upon approaching Fortson's door, Duran stood motionless for 20 seconds, straining to listen. However, no voices were captured on Duran's body cam footage.
Next, Duran knocked on the door and stayed hush-hush about his identity. He then shifted to the door's side, maintaining a 5-foot distance. Duran explained to investigators that he had concerns that the person inside might shoot through the door or thrust him over the railing, which was a substantial 40 feet drop.
Duran waited a dozen seconds before pounding on the door once more, this time yelling, "Sheriff's office - open up!" He retreated once more, and a muffled voice could be heard on the footage, swearing at the police, according to Duran.
Within seconds, Duran returned to his position in front of the door and attacked it anew, shouting his presence a third time.
Fortson's girlfriend told investigators that the airman inquired who was there, but received no response. She stated that Fortson expressed his intention not to answer the door, as no visitors usually paid him a visit. She added that neither of them detected Duran shouting his affiliation with the sheriff's office.
After the third knock, Fortson reportedly told his girlfriend, "I'm going to grab my gun, because I don't know who that is."
Upon opening the door while holding his weapon, Fortson was instructed to "step back," by Duran. Two seconds later, Duran opened fire. Fortson tumbled backward to the floor.
Only at this point did Duran scream, "Drop the gun!"
Fortson retorted, "It's over there."
An emergency call was placed for paramedics, but Fortson passed away shortly after at the hospital.
The sheriff's office announced that they stood by their decision to terminate officer Eddie Duran after his involvement in the fatal shooting of Senior Airman Roger Fortson.
The prosecutors accused deputy Eddie Duran, who is part of the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office, of manslaughter with a firearm, involving the shooting death of Fortson.
