A Florida jury recently acquitted former sheriff’s deputy Eddie Duran of manslaughter with a firearm in the fatal shooting of Roger Fortson, a Black US air force airman. Fortson was killed inside his apartment in May 2024 after authorities responded to an unfounded report of a domestic disturbance.
An Okaloosa county jury found Duran, 38, not guilty on Thursday after approximately two hours of deliberations. Duran had faced a potential sentence of up to 30 years in prison if convicted.
Authorities stated that Duran was directed to Fortson’s apartment in Fort Walton Beach following the false report. The encounter, captured on the deputy’s body camera, showed Fortson answering the door while holding a handgun pointed towards the ground. Duran reportedly fired multiple times before instructing Fortson to drop the weapon.
Following the acquittal, civil rights attorney Ben Crump stated on Friday that Fortson’s family intends to pursue accountability through the civil court system. A federal civil rights lawsuit filed by the family remains pending.
Fortson’s mother, Chantemekki Fortson, told Atlanta news outlet WXIA that she was not surprised by the verdict, citing the speed of the jury's deliberations.