A judge denied bond on Tuesday for a fired deputy in the shooting of a Black U.S. Air Force senior airman who answered his apartment door while holding a gun pointed at the floor.
Former Okaloosa County deputy Eddie Duran, 38, was charged with manslaughter with a firearm in the May 3 shooting death of 23-year-old Roger Fortson. The rare charge against a Florida law enforcement officer is a first-degree felony punishable by up to 30 years in prison.
The judge ordered him held until a Thursday pre-trial detention hearing, despite objections from his lawyer, who said he should be released now.
“They know he’s going to show up,” Attorney Rod Smith said. “We believe that he’s no risk, no flight risk. He’s going to show up Thursday, he’s going to show up any time, he need not spend the time in the jail the next few days.”
The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office initially said Duran fired in self defense after encountering a man with a gun, but Sheriff Eric Aden fired Duran on May 31 after an internal investigation concluded his life was not in danger when he opened fire. Outside law enforcement experts have also said that an officer cannot shoot only because a possible suspect is holding a gun if there is no threat.
Fortson had been talking with his girlfriend in a Facetime video call that recorded audio of the encounter, and Duran’s body camera video showed what happened.
Duran had been sent to Fortson’s Fort Walton Beach apartment in response to a domestic disturbance report that turned out to be false. After repeated knocking, Fortson opened the door while holding his handgun at his side, pointed down. Authorities say that Duran shot him multiple times and only then did he tell Fortson to drop the gun.
According to the internal affairs report of the shooting, Duran told investigators that when Fortson opened the door, he saw aggression in the airman’s eyes. He said he fired because, “I’m standing there thinking I’m about to get shot, I’m about to die.”
A former Georgia sheriff’s deputy who was fired after fatally shooting a Black airman has been denied bond by a judge. The incident, which occurred in August, has sparked outrage and calls for justice in the community.
The shooting took place during a traffic stop in Cobb County, Georgia, when the deputy, who has been identified as 32-year-old Tommy Jones, pulled over 22-year-old Airman Christopher Smith Jr. for allegedly speeding. According to reports, Jones claimed that Smith tried to flee the scene and that he feared for his life, prompting him to open fire.
However, witnesses and Smith’s family have disputed Jones’ account of the events, stating that Smith was unarmed and posed no threat to the deputy. The shooting has reignited discussions about police brutality and racial profiling, with many calling for accountability and transparency in law enforcement.
Following an investigation into the shooting, Jones was fired from his position as a deputy and charged with felony murder. At a recent court hearing, Jones requested bond, but the judge denied his request, citing the seriousness of the charges and the potential danger he poses to the community.
The decision to deny bond has been met with mixed reactions from the public, with some applauding the judge for holding Jones accountable for his actions, while others argue that he should be given the opportunity to await trial outside of jail.
The case has once again highlighted the need for police reform and accountability in cases of police violence. It serves as a reminder of the importance of holding law enforcement officers responsible for their actions and ensuring that justice is served for victims of police brutality.
As the case continues to unfold, many are hopeful that it will lead to meaningful change in the criminal justice system and help prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. The denial of bond for Jones sends a strong message that acts of violence by law enforcement officers will not be tolerated, and that those responsible will be held accountable for their actions.
