The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office has terminated the employment of Deputy Eddie Duran following an administrative investigation into the fatal shooting of Senior Airman Roger Fortson at his home on May 3.
The investigation concluded that Duran’s use of deadly force was not objectively reasonable and violated agency policy.
The incident occurred when Deputy Duran responded to a domestic disturbance call at an apartment complex on Racetrack Road NW. Bodycam footage and dispatch records confirmed that Duran was directed to Unit 1401, where the disturbance was reported.
Upon arrival, Duran knocked on the door without initially announcing his presence.
After knocking a second and third time and identifying himself as law enforcement, Roger Fortson, 23, opened the door holding a firearm pointed at the ground.
Fortson did not make any hostile movements, but Duran fired multiple shots, resulting in Fortson’s death.
Okaloosa County Sheriff Eric Aden stated, “The objective facts do not support the use of deadly force as an appropriate response to Mr. Fortson’s actions. Mr. Fortson did not commit any crime. By all accounts, he was an exceptional airman and individual.”
The administrative investigation, which is distinct from the ongoing criminal investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, determined that Fortson’s actions did not meet the criteria for deadly force as outlined in OCSO’s General Order 04.01 – Response to Resistance. This policy states that deadly force is permissible only when an officer reasonably believes it is necessary to protect human life from imminent danger.
Fortson’s family, represented by civil rights attorney Ben Crump, expressed that while Duran’s firing is a step towards justice, it is insufficient. Crump emphasized that the deputy’s actions were not just negligent but criminal, and further accountability is necessary.
The sheriff’s office has been transparent in the aftermath, releasing bodycam footage and other records, and maintaining communication with Fortson’s family and the community. Sheriff Aden reiterated the department’s commitment to fair and equal law enforcement, safeguarding civil liberties, and preserving public safety.
Duran, a law enforcement veteran with a background as a military police officer, joined the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office in 2019, resigned two years later, and rejoined the department 11 months prior to the incident. He has not commented publicly on the termination.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s investigation continues, and the state attorney’s office will determine if further actions, including potential criminal charges, will be taken against Duran.
Law enforcement agencies across the country are failing to provide the public with even basic information about the lives they take. Police have killed 462 people in the U.S.
so far in 2024, according to Mapping Police Violence, a nonprofit organization that publishes a database of police violence in the United States.
Police have killed seven more people in the U.S. through April 2024 compared to the same period in the previous year.