A former deputy was acquitted of manslaughter in the shooting death of a Black U.S. Air Force airman, after a jury found him not guilty. Eddie Duran, 38, faced up to 30 years in prison but was cleared on Thursday.
Duran, a Hispanic officer with the Okaloosa County sheriff’s department, responded to a domestic‑disturbance call at Roger Fortson’s apartment near Hurlburt Field in May 2024. Body‑camera footage shows him banging on the door, shouting for it to open, and then firing shots after Fortson, a 23‑year‑old airman, appeared to hold a handgun. Duran shouted for Fortson to drop the gun and later called paramedics. Fortson died at a hospital; the domestic‑disturbance report was later found to be false.
The State Attorney’s office charged Duran and said it accepted the verdict, noting that the state had not proven the charge beyond a reasonable doubt. It acknowledged that the verdict would cause pain and anger, especially among those who view the death in the context of national law‑enforcement encounters. Duran was fired after an internal investigation concluded his life was not in danger. His attorney said the shooting was a safety issue and that Duran had followed training.
The case has reignited debate over Florida’s stand‑your‑ground laws, which critics say enable a “shoot‑first” mentality that disproportionately affects Black people. A federal civil‑rights lawsuit was filed last year by Fortson’s family against Duran, Sheriff Eric Aden and others. Family attorney Ben Crump said the verdict was painful for the family, who have lived with the loss for more than two years.
