Former Deputy Faces Manslaughter Charge in U.S. Air Force Senior Airman’s Death

A former deputy from Florida has been apprehended in connection with the fatal shooting of a Black U.S. Air Force senior airman. The incident occurred when the airman, Roger Fortson, opened his apartment door holding a gun pointed towards the ground.

Eddie Duran, 38, previously served as a deputy in Okaloosa County. He faces charges of manslaughter with a firearm for the May 3rd shooting of the 23-year-old airman. Greg Marcille, Assistant State Attorney, announced the charge last Friday. This first-degree felony could lead to a maximum of 30 years in prison.

Duran surrendered himself on Monday and was subsequently booked into the county jail. Marcille confirmed his arrest, stating,
“He did, in fact, turn himself in.”
Duran’s initial court appearance is scheduled for Tuesday morning via video link.
“He will be held in custody pending his initial appearance,” Marcille added.

An attorney representing Duran has not yet commented on the case.

Authorities were originally dispatched to Fortson’s Fort Walton Beach apartment after receiving a false report of a domestic disturbance. When Fortson answered the door, he had a handgun at his side, pointed downward. Duran then shot him multiple times before instructing Fortson to drop the weapon.

On the day the charges were announced, candles and framed photos of Fortson in uniform were placed at the apartment’s entrance as a tribute.

Duran told investigators he perceived aggression in Fortson’s eyes when the door was opened. He said,
“I’m standing there thinking I’m about to get shot, I’m about to die.”
However, an internal investigation led by Okaloosa Sheriff Eric Aden concluded that Duran’s life was not in immediate danger when he fired his weapon. Duran was terminated from his position on May 31. External law enforcement experts have also stated that an officer cannot shoot merely because a suspect is holding a gun if there is no immediate threat.

Duran’s background includes service as a military police officer in the Army. He initially joined the Okaloosa County sheriff’s office in July 2019 but resigned two years later due to his wife’s job transfer. He rejoined the sheriff’s office in June 2023.

Records show that Duran had been reprimanded in 2021 for failing to verify the addresses of three registered sex offenders. He had told a colleague he didn’t care about the task. Additionally, while 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.

Watch a local news report about the incident below:

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