Ex-Deputy Turns Himself in Over Airman's Fatal Shooting

Eddie Duran accused of manslaughter in shooting of Roger Fortson inside his Florida home
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Aug 23, 2024 12:45 PM CDT
Updated Aug 27, 2024 1:00 AM CDT
Ex-Deputy Charged in Airman's Fatal Shooting
This photo provided by the U.S. Air Force, shows Senior Airman Roger Fortson in a Dec. 24, 2019, photo.   (U.S. Air Force via AP)
UPDATE Aug 27, 2024 1:00 AM CDT

A former Florida sheriff's deputy charged with killing a Black US 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. Duran was booked into the county jail Monday, records show. "He did, in fact, turn himself in," Marcille told the AP, adding that Duran's initial court appearance will be via video link Tuesday morning. "He will be held in custody pending his initial appearance."

Aug 23, 2024 12:45 PM CDT

A Florida Panhandle sheriff's deputy is facing a charge of manslaughter with a firearm in connection with the fatal shooting of an airman who opened his apartment door while holding a gun, per the AP. Former Okaloosa County deputy Eddie Duran was charged Friday in the May 3 shooting death of Senior Airman Roger Fortson, Assistant State Attorney Greg Marcille said Friday. That is a first-degree felony punishable by up to 30 years in prison. Marcille said a warrant has been issued for Duran's arrest but he was not in custody as of early Friday afternoon. Fortson, 23, was Black.

"I think this is the best that we could have hoped for in this particular case," said Sabu Williams, president of the local branch of the NAACP. 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. Okaloosa Sheriff Eric Aden fired Duran on May 31 after an internal investigation concluded his life was not in danger when he opened fire.

(More Roger Fortson stories.)

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