By Kate Payne, Curt Anderson and Jeff Martin
Associated Press
FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. — A Florida sheriff’s deputy was charged with manslaughter with a firearm after a U.S. Air Force senior airman was killed after answering his apartment door while holding a gun.
Former Okaloosa County deputy Eddie Duran, 38, was charged in the May 3 shooting death of 23-year-old Roger Fortson, Assistant State Attorney Greg Marcille said. The charge 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 Friday afternoon.
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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.
Okaloosa Sheriff Eric Aden fired Duran on May 31 after an internal investigation concluded his life was not in danger when he opened fire.
Duran’s attorney, John Whitaker, did not immediately respond to a phone call and email seeking comment.
Duran began his law enforcement career as a military police officer in the Army. He was hired by an Oklahoma police department in 2015 after his military discharge. He joined the Okaloosa County sheriff’s office in 2019, but resigned two years later and then rejoined the sheriff’s office in 2023.
In a statement Friday, the sheriff’s office said it stands by its decision to terminate Duran and has been “fully accountable and transparent” throughout the case.
Duran went to the apartment complex on May 3 after getting the domestic disturbance call. Duran met an apartment manager who directed him to Fortson’s fourth-floor unit, telling him there had been frequent arguments, the deputy’s body camera video shows.
Fortson, who had no criminal record, lived alone and had no guests that afternoon. He was on a video call with his girlfriend, who told investigators they had not been arguing. She said Fortson was playing a video game.
Also, 911 records show deputies had never been called to Fortson’s apartment previously but they had been called to a nearby unit 10 times in the previous eight months, including once for a domestic disturbance.
When Duran arrived outside Fortson’s door, he stood silently for 20 seconds and listened, but no voices inside are recorded on Duran’s body camera video.
He then pounded on the door, but didn’t identify himself. He then moved to the side of the door, about 5 feet away (1.5 meters). He told investigators he feared that the person inside might fire through the door or open the door and push him over the rail and to the ground about 40 feet (12 meters) below.
He waited 15 seconds before pounding on the door again. This time he yelled, “Sheriff’s office — open the door!” He again moved to the side. A muffled voice can be heard on the video — Duran said he heard someone cursing at the police.
Less then 10 seconds later, Duran moved back in front of the door and pounded again, announcing himself once more.
Fortson’s girlfriend told investigators that the airman asked who was there but did not get a response. She said Fortson told her he was not going to answer the door because no one comes to his apartment. She said neither of them heard the deputy yell that he was with the sheriff’s office.
After the third knock, she said Fortson told her, “I’m gonna go grab my gun because I don’t know who that is.”
When Fortson opened the door holding his gun, Duran said “Step back,” before firing. Fortson fell backward onto the floor.
The deputy called for paramedics, but Fortson died a short time later at the hospital.
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Anderson reported from St. Petersburg, Florida; Martin reported from Atlanta. Terry Spencer in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, contributed to this story.