A former Florida sheriff’s deputy charged with killing a Black U.S. Air Force senior airman who answered his apartment door while holding a gun pointed toward the ground was arrested Monday, officials said.
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, Assistant State Attorney Greg Marcille announced Friday. The charge is a first-degree felony punishable by up to 30 years in prison.
Duran was booked into the county jail Monday, records show. Marcille confirmed his arrest to The Associated Press.
“He did, in fact, turn himself in,” Marcille said in a telephone interview, adding that Duran’s initial court appearance will be via video link Tuesday morning. “He will be held in custody pending his initial appearance.”
An attorney representing Duran did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.
Authorities say Duran had been directed 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; only then did he tell Fortson to drop the gun.
On Friday, the day the charge was announced, candles and framed photos of Fortson in uniform graced the doorway of the apartment where he was killed.
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.”
Okaloosa 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.
Duran is a law enforcement veteran, starting as a military police officer in the Army. He joined the Okaloosa County sheriff’s office in July 2019, but resigned two years later, saying his wife, a nurse, had been transferred to a Naval hospital out of the area. He rejoined the sheriff’s office in June 2023.
Okaloosa personnel records show he was reprimanded in 2021 for not completing his assignment to confirm the addresses of three registered sex offenders by visiting their homes, telling a colleague he didn’t care about them. Then assigned to a high school as its on-campus deputy, he was also disciplined that year for leaving the school before the final bell and the students’ departure. Florida law requires that an armed guard be on campus when class is in session.
Records of 911 calls show deputies had never been called to Fortson’s apartment previously but they had been summoned to a nearby unit 10 times in the previous eight months, including once for a domestic disturbance.
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Anderson reported from St. Petersburg, Florida. Martin reported from Atlanta.
An ex-sheriff’s deputy has been arrested for fatally shooting a Black airman at his home, sparking outrage and renewed calls for accountability in cases of police violence against people of color.
The incident occurred in a quiet neighborhood in a small town, where the ex-deputy had responded to a call about a disturbance at the airman’s residence. According to reports, the airman, who was unarmed, was shot multiple times by the ex-deputy after a brief confrontation.
The shooting has reignited the debate over police brutality and racial profiling, with many questioning why the ex-deputy felt the need to use deadly force in a situation that could have been resolved peacefully. The victim’s family and community members have called for a thorough investigation into the shooting and for the ex-deputy to be held accountable for his actions.
This tragic incident is just one of many examples of police violence against people of color in the United States. Studies have shown that Black Americans are disproportionately targeted and killed by law enforcement officers, highlighting the systemic racism and bias that exists within the criminal justice system.
In response to the shooting, activists and community leaders are calling for reforms to address police misconduct and ensure accountability for officers who use excessive force. Calls for increased training on de-escalation techniques, implicit bias, and cultural sensitivity have been made to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.
The arrest of the ex-deputy is a small step towards justice for the victim and his family, but more needs to be done to address the underlying issues that lead to these tragic events. It is crucial for law enforcement agencies to hold their officers accountable for their actions and work towards building trust with the communities they serve.
As the investigation into this shooting continues, it is important for all members of society to come together to demand justice and equality for all. Only by working together can we create a more just and equitable society where everyone feels safe and protected by law enforcement.
