Okaloosa County Sheriff's Deputy Fired for Fatal Shooting of Senior Airman

The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s deputy involved in the shooting death of Senior Airman Roger Fortson has been terminated from his position, the sheriff’s office announced on Friday. Deputy Eddie Duran was dismissed following an administrative investigation which deemed his use of deadly force as "not objectionably reasonable," according to a news release from the sheriff’s office.

The investigation concluded that Fortson, who was fatally shot at his apartment on May 3, did not exhibit any hostile or attacking movements towards Deputy Duran, rendering the use of deadly force unjustifiable under the sheriff’s office policy. The sheriff’s office further refuted claims from Fortson’s family and their attorney alleging that Duran mistakenly went to the wrong apartment in response to a call about a physical disturbance.

Duran's body camera footage captured the sequence of events leading to the shooting. When Fortson opened his apartment door, he was holding a pistol at his side. Duran fired at Fortson at least five times in rapid succession, with Fortson falling to the floor. Despite Fortson being shot, Duran continued to shout commands for him to drop the gun. The entire encounter, from the moment Fortson began to open his door to Duran firing and Fortson falling, transpired in approximately five seconds.

The internal investigation resulting in Duran's dismissal was conducted independently of an ongoing criminal investigation being conducted by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

The sheriff’s office clarified its policy regarding the use of deadly force, stipulating that it is permissible only under specific circumstances, such as when an officer reasonably believes it is necessary to defend human life, including their own or that of another person in imminent danger of serious physical injury. The policy also defines "deadly force resistance" as instances where an individual carries out attacking movements, with or without a weapon, indicating intent to cause death or serious bodily harm.

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According to the sheriff’s office, the investigation concluded that Fortson was holding a handgun when he opened his apartment door, though it was pointed at the ground in a manner visible to Duran. The former deputy confirmed that Fortson did not physically resist him, and the investigation determined that Fortson did not point the gun towards Duran.

Roger Fortson, 23, served as a Special Missions Aviator with the 4th Special Operations Squadron at Hurlburt Field, Florida, operating AC-130J gunships. His funeral was attended by hundreds of airmen, and memorial events have been held at Air Force bases nationwide in recent weeks.