Former Florida deputy charged with manslaughter in airman shooting

A former Florida sheriff’s deputy was arrested on Monday for the fatal shooting of a Black US Air Force senior airman who answered his door with a gun pointed toward the ground.

Eddie Duran, 38, a former Okaloosa County deputy, faces a first-degree felony manslaughter charge for the May 3 killing of 23-year-old Roger Fortson, as announced by Assistant State Attorney Greg Marcille on Friday. This charge could lead to a prison sentence of up to 30 years.

Records confirm Duran’s booking into the county jail on Monday. Marcille verified the arrest, stating, “He did, in fact, turn himself in.” Duran’s initial court appearance will occur Tuesday morning via video link. “He will be held in custody pending his initial appearance,” Marcille added in a phone interview.

The Florida state attorney has charged former deputy Eddie Duran in connection with the shooting death of U.S. Air Force Sr. Airman Roger Fortson.

Duran faces one count of manslaughter with a firearm, a charge that could result in a maximum sentence of 30 years. pic.twitter.com/Mlha4ON6wv

— Atlanta Black Star (@ATLBlackStar) August 23, 2024

Duran’s attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Authorities reported that Duran was dispatched to Fortson’s Fort Walton Beach apartment due to a false domestic disturbance report. After persistent knocking, Fortson opened the door with a handgun at his side. Duran then shot him multiple times before instructing him to drop the weapon.

Candles and framed photos of Fortson in uniform adorned the apartment doorway where he was killed, coinciding with the announcement of the charge on Friday.

Duran told investigators he perceived aggression in Fortson’s eyes when the door opened, fearing for his life. “I’m standing there thinking I’m about to get shot, I’m about to die,” he recounted.

Okaloosa Sheriff Eric Aden terminated Duran on May 31, following an internal investigation that determined Duran’s life was not in jeopardy when he fired. External law enforcement experts have also stated that an officer cannot shoot solely because a possible suspect is holding a gun without an evident threat.

Duran, a veteran in law enforcement, began his career as a military police officer in the Army. He joined the Okaloosa County sheriff’s office in July 2019 but resigned two years later due to his wife’s job transfer. He returned to the sheriff’s office in June 2023.

Personnel records from Okaloosa indicate that in 2021, Duran was reprimanded for failing to verify the addresses of three registered sex offenders, saying he didn’t care about them. While assigned as an on-campus deputy at a high school, he was also disciplined for leaving before the final bell, violating Florida law which mandates an armed guard be present while class is in session.

911 call logs reveal that deputies had never previously been called to Fortson’s apartment, but nearby units had been attended to 10 times in the last eight months, including once for a domestic disturbance.