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Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Yahoo
Family sues after U.S. Airman killed by Florida deputy in his own home
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways The Brief The family of Roger Fortson, a Black U.S. airman, filed a wrongful death lawsuit after he was fatally shot by a deputy responding to a false domestic call. Deputy Eddie Duran has pleaded not guilty to manslaughter in the May 2024 shooting. The case has sparked national outcry over policing, race, and accountability in law enforcement. ORLANDO, Fla. - The family of Roger Fortson, a Black U.S. airman, filed a wrongful death lawsuit after he was fatally shot by a deputy responding to a false domestic call. 'He had a life ahead of him' What we know On May 3, 2024, Deputy Eddie Duran shot and killed Senior Airman Roger Fortson inside Fortson's own apartment in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. The deputy had responded to a 911 call about a domestic disturbance allegedly coming from Fortson's unit. U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Roger Fortson, 23, died Friday, May 3, following an incident at his off-base residence. Fortson was assigned to the 4th Special Operations Squadron. He entered active duty on Nov. 19, 2019. [Credit: U.S. Air Force] When Fortson opened the door, he was shot within seconds. He was alone and on a FaceTime call with his girlfriend at the time. Duran has since been charged with manslaughter with a firearm and has pleaded not guilty. Fortson was a 23-year-old Black airman assigned to the 4th Special Operations Squadron at Hurlburt Field. What we don't know It remains unclear why Fortson's apartment was identified as the location of the reported disturbance or what information the apartment complex staff provided to the deputy. Authorities have not fully disclosed the body camera footage or other details about Duran's actions in the moments leading up to the shooting. Additionally, it's uncertain whether the justice system in Okaloosa County will conduct a trial that Fortson's family and supporters deem fair. The backstory This incident joins a broader national conversation about police use of force, especially in cases involving Black victims. Fortson's death has prompted comparisons to other high-profile killings of Black Americans by law enforcement, including those of Michael Brown, Breonna Taylor, Tyre Nichols, and George Floyd. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who has represented families in many of those cases, is now representing Fortson's family. The case also intersects with ongoing military efforts to address racial disparities within its ranks. Big picture view The shooting has reignited concerns about systemic issues in law enforcement accountability and racial bias, particularly in areas like the Florida Panhandle. Okaloosa County has a reputation for rarely charging officers for on-duty killings, and convictions are even rarer. Fortson's death adds pressure on local and federal systems to reassess police response protocols, training standards, and the role of racial dynamics in use-of-force cases. What they're saying Deputy Eddie Duran was responding to a domestic disturbance report at Fortson's apartment that turned out to be false. "I want accountability because he was 23. I want accountability because he had a life ahead of him. I want accountability because he was in his own home," said Fortson's mother, Meka Fortson, at a news conference. It is highly unusual for Florida law enforcement officers to be charged for an on-duty killing. Convictions in such cases are even rarer. "This is not policing. This is an unlawful execution," said Ben Crump, the family's attorney. "We believe Roger's death was a result of a pattern and practice here in Okaloosa County," Crump added, criticizing what he called systemic issues in the sheriff's office. Meka Fortson also expressed deep skepticism about local justice. "I have no faith in Okaloosa County," she said, casting doubt that her son's case would receive a fair trial in the area where the deputy worked. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 35 ORLANDO: The Source This story was written based on reporting by the Associated Press, information released by the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and statements provided during a news conference held by Ben Crump, the family's attorney.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Yahoo
Civil rights lawsuit filed in Florida deputy's killing of US Airman Roger Fortson
The family of a U.S. airman who was fatally shot by a Florida sheriff's deputy inside his own home in 2024 filed a federal civil rights lawsuit Tuesday over his killing. The complaint filed in a Pensacola courthouse alleges that Deputy Eddie Duran used excessive and unconstitutional deadly force when he shot Senior Airman Roger Fortson just seconds after the Black 23-year-old opened his apartment door on May 3, 2024. Duran identifies as Hispanic, according to his voter registration. Fortson's family is represented by Ben Crump, a civil rights attorney who has been involved in a number of cases involving law enforcement killings of Black people, including those of Michael Brown, Breonna Taylor, Tyre Nichols and George Floyd. Duran has pleaded not guilty to a charge of manslaughter with a firearm. The complaint also details alleged failures by the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office in training and supervision and claims that staff at the apartment complex where Fortson lived provided misleading information that led to the fatal law enforcement response. Duran came to Fortson's door in Fort Walton Beach in response to a report of a physical fight inside an apartment. A worker there identified Fortson's apartment as the location of a loud argument, according to sheriff's investigators. Fortson, who was assigned to the 4th Special Operations Squadron at Hurlburt Field, was alone at the time, talking with his girlfriend on a FaceTime video call. Duran's body camera video showed what happened next. The deputy pounded at the door repeatedly and yelled, 'Sheriff's office — open the door!' Fortson opened the door with his legally purchased gun in his right hand, pointed to the ground. The deputy said, 'Step back,' then immediately began firing. Fortson fell backward onto the floor. Only then did the deputy yell, 'Drop the gun!' Deputies had never been called to Fortson's apartment before, 911 records show, but they had been called to a nearby unit 10 times in the previous eight months, including once for a domestic disturbance. The fatal shooting renewed debate on police killings and race, and occurred against a wider backdrop of increased attention by the military to racial issues in its ranks. It is highly unusual for Florida law enforcement officers to be charged for an on-duty killing. Convictions in such cases are even rarer. ___ Kate Payne is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
06-05-2025
Lawsuit planned over Florida deputy's shooting of US airman who was killed in his own home
FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. -- Prominent civil rights attorney Ben Crump says he will file a lawsuit against a former Florida sheriff's deputy and others for the May 2024 shooting death of 23-year-old U.S. Senior Airman Roger Fortson. Former Okaloosa County Sheriff's Deputy Eddie Duran shot and killed Fortson, who was Black, at the door of Fortson's apartment. Duran has pleaded not guilty to manslaughter. That criminal case is pending. Crump plans a news conference Tuesday afternoon with Fortson family members in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, to discuss the lawsuit. Crump says his lawsuit will contend that Duran used 'excessive and unconstitutional deadly force' in the shooting. It will also outline what it calls failures of training and supervision at the sheriff's office and claim the apartment complex where Fortson was shot provided 'misleading, unverified information' that led to the violent response. 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 Duran shot him multiple times before telling Fortson to drop the gun. Duran, 39, began his law enforcement career as a military police officer in the Army. An Oklahoma police department hired him in 2015 after his military discharge. He joined the Okaloosa County sheriff's office in 2019, resigned two years later and then rejoined the sheriff's office in 2023. Okaloosa Sheriff Eric Aden fired Duran after Fortson's death because an internal investigation concluded Duran's life was not in danger when he opened fire. Duran identifies as Hispanic, according to his voter registration. Fortson grew up in Atlanta and joined the Air Force in 2019, the year he graduated from high school. The apartment complex where Fortson lived is about 8 miles (13 kilometers) from Hurlburt Field. He was assigned to the 4th Special Operations Squadron as a special missions aviator, where one of his roles was to load a gunship's 30 mm and 105 mm weapons. His death was one of a growing list of killings of Black people by law enforcement in their own homes. It also renewed debate over Florida's 'stand your ground' law. The case is in the pretrial hearing phase, with a hearing on motions set for May 20. Duran is out of jail on bond.
The Independent
06-05-2025
- The Independent
Lawsuit planned over Florida deputy's shooting of US airman who was killed in his own home
Prominent civil rights attorney Ben Crump says he will file a lawsuit against a former Florida sheriff's deputy and others for the May 2024 shooting death of 23-year-old U.S. Senior Airman Roger Fortson. Former Okaloosa County Sheriff's Deputy Eddie Duran shot and killed Fortson, who was Black, at the door of Fortson's apartment. Duran has pleaded not guilty to manslaughter. That criminal case is pending. Crump plans a news conference Tuesday afternoon with Fortson family members in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, to discuss the lawsuit. What is the lawsuit about? Crump says his lawsuit will contend that Duran used 'excessive and unconstitutional deadly force' in the shooting. It will also outline what it calls failures of training and supervision at the sheriff's office and claim the apartment complex where Fortson was shot provided 'misleading, unverified information' that led to the violent response. How did the shooting unfold? 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 Duran shot him multiple times before telling Fortson to drop the gun. Who is Eddie Duran? Duran, 39, began his law enforcement career as a military police officer in the Army. An Oklahoma police department hired him in 2015 after his military discharge. He joined the Okaloosa County sheriff's office in 2019, resigned two years later and then rejoined the sheriff's office in 2023. Okaloosa Sheriff Eric Aden fired Duran after Fortson's death because an internal investigation concluded Duran's life was not in danger when he opened fire. Duran identifies as Hispanic, according to his voter registration. Who was Roger Fortson? Fortson grew up in Atlanta and joined the Air Force in 2019, the year he graduated from high school. The apartment complex where Fortson lived is about 8 miles (13 kilometers) from Hurlburt Field. He was assigned to the 4th Special Operations Squadron as a special missions aviator, where one of his roles was to load a gunship's 30 mm and 105 mm weapons. His death was one of a growing list of killings of Black people by law enforcement in their own homes. It also renewed debate over Florida's 'stand your ground' law. What is the status of the criminal case against Duran? The case is in the pretrial hearing phase, with a hearing on motions set for May 20. Duran is out of jail on bond. Who is Ben Crump? Crump, 55, is a well-known Black attorney based in Tallahassee, Florida, who has worked on numerous high-profile civil right cases and wrongful death lawsuits. His cases have included those involving other Black people who have been killed by law enforcement, including Breonna Taylor, George Floyd and Michael Brown.
