Florida jury finds ex-sheriff’s deputy not guilty in shooting death of Black air force airman
Summary
A Florida jury found former sheriff’s deputy Eddie Duran not guilty of manslaughter in the shooting death of Roger Fortson, a Black U.S. Air Force airman. The shooting happened after a false domestic disturbance report, and Duran was acquitted after a four-day trial.Key Facts
- Eddie Duran, 38, was a deputy in Okaloosa County when he shot Roger Fortson in May 2024.
- Fortson was an Air Force airman stationed in Fort Walton Beach, originally from Atlanta.
- Police responded to a false report of a domestic disturbance at Fortson’s apartment.
- Fortson answered the door holding a handgun pointed down; Duran fired multiple times after telling him to drop the gun.
- The shooting was recorded on Duran’s body camera.
- Duran was acquitted after about two hours of jury deliberation and faced up to 30 years in prison if convicted.
- Duran was fired from the sheriff’s office after the shooting.
- Fortson’s family plans to continue legal action with a federal civil rights lawsuit.
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