Latest news with #Okaloosa
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Yahoo
Family sues after U.S. airman Roger Fortson killed by Florida deputy in his home
The mother of slain U.S. airman Roger Fortson is demanding justice from those she deems responsible for gunning down her 23-year-old son inside his apartment last year through a lawsuit filed Tuesday alleging excessive force, wrongful death, municipal liability and other wrongdoings. Chantimekki 'Meka' Fortson, with civil rights attorney Ben Crump, has sued the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office, Deputy Eddie Duran, the Elan Apartments where the Black airman lived and a leasing agent identified as Jane Doe. 'Mr. Fortson, who was lawfully in possession of a legally owned firearm and posed no threat, was killed as a result of a cascade of negligent, reckless and unconstitutional actions by both law enforcement and the apartment complex where he resided,' the suit read. Duran is the since-fired and criminally charged deputy who is alleged to have fatally shot Fortson. In August, he was charged with manslaughter with a firearm, a first-degree felony punishable by up to 30 years in prison. His sheriff's office admonished his actions for an unnecessary use of force. READ MORE: Florida deputy fired after investigation into his killing of a Black U.S. airman Fortson was killed May 3 in his off-base Fort Walton Beach apartment, which is located between Pensacola and Panama City. He served as an AC-130J Ghostrider gunner with the 1st Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field. That afternoon, while alone in his apartment and on a FaceTime call with his girlfriend, a leasing agent at Elan Apartments called the Okaloosa Sheriff's Office, reporting a possible domestic disturbance, the lawsuit said. Crump and Chantimekki claim the agent's claim was unverified and based on secondhand information. Based on that information, Duran was sent to his apartment, which started a tense confrontation that devolved into Fortson's death. The sheriff's office released 'objective facts' on the pair's interaction. Doran waited at Fortson's door and listened for sounds of the possible 'disturbance.' Hearing nothing, he knocked without announcing he was a deputy. He said he heard 'something to the effect of it's the (expletive) police.' Doran knocked loudly two more times, this time announcing himself. When Forston opened the door, Doran saw him holding a gun in his right hand. The gun was pointed at the ground 'sufficiently enough for the former deputy to clearly see the rear face of the rear sight,' according to the sheriff's office's account. Almost immediately after opening the door, Doran shot him six times. In its findings, the sheriff's office concluded Fortson did not physically resist in any way and did not point the gun at Doran, which was seen in earlier released body camera footage. 'This was a catastrophic failure on every level: By a deputy who used unjustifiable force, by a sheriff's office that failed to train its officers properly, and by an apartment employee whose reckless assumptions set this deadly chain of events into motion,' said Attorney Ben Crump. READ MORE: Black airman shot to death by a Florida deputy who blitzed wrong apartment, attorneys say The lawsuit pointed out body camera footage and an internal affairs report confirmed that Fortson never raised his weapon and posed no threat. 'Roger Fortson was a proud service member, a loving son, and a young man with his whole life ahead of him,' Crump said. 'He deserved to feel safe in his own home. Instead, he was killed where he should have been safest, based on hearsay and bias. This lawsuit is about justice for Roger and accountability for those responsible for his needless death.'
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Yahoo
Civil rights attorney files wrongful death lawsuit against deputy charged with killing Airman
Civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump said he is filing a wrongful death lawsuit against the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Deputy who shot and killed 23-year-old U.S. senior airman Roger Fortson. Crump made the announcement Tuesday afternoon alongside Fortson's mother, Meka Fortson. 'I want accountability because he was 23. I want accountability because he was in his own home,' Meka Fortson said. The mother told Channel 2's Audrey Washington she will continue to travel to Okaloosa County, Florida, until the people she believes caused her son's death are held accountable. 'They turned an ordinary day into what would be a death sentence,' Crump said on Tuesday. Crump said Deputy Eddie Duran, who was responding to a disturbance call at the time of the shooting in 2024, showed 'excessive and unconstitutional deadly force.' RELATED STORIES: Crump noted that Duran shot and killed Fortson within seconds of Fortson answering his apartment door. Deputy body cam video showed Fortson answer his own door while holding a legally owned handgun pointed toward the floor. 'He was shot, dying with his little dog barking in the background,' Crump said. Crump also said he believed both the Okaloosa County Sheriff's office and the apartment complex where Fortson lived were responsible. 'It was the wrong apartment, and had they not based everything on speculation, then maybe the deputy would've gotten the right apartment,' Crump said. 'You're going to be held accountable and held accountable the right way,' Meka Fortson said. Duran is charged with manslaughter with a firearm.
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Presidents' Day means no school for most - but not all - of Florida. See the list
Presidents' Day is here. The federal holiday is a mixed bag of closures. The stock exchange and banks are closed and there won't be mail delivery, but department stores and restaurants are open. Almost all Florida schools are closed for the federal holiday, which actually is designated as Washington's Birthday. School is in session in seven districts. Here is the breakdown by Florida county. Alachua: closed Monday, Feb. 17. Due to the impacts of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, schools were open on the pre-planned flex day Feb. 14. Baker: closed Monday, Feb. 17. Bay: closed Monday, Feb. 17. Bradford: closed Monday, Feb. 17. Brevard: open Monday, Feb. 17 for hurricane makeup day Broward: closed Monday, Feb. 17 Calhoun: closed Monday, Feb. 17 Charlotte: closed Monday, Feb. 17 Citrus: closed Monday, Feb. 17 Clay: closed Monday, Feb. 17 Collier: closed Monday, Feb. 17 Columbia: Closed Friday, Feb. 14 but open on Presidents' Day Monday, Feb. 17 DeSoto: closed Monday, Feb. 17 Dixie: Closed Friday, Feb. 14 and closed Monday, Feb. 17 Duval: closed Monday, Feb. 17 Escambia: closed Monday, Feb. 17 Flagler: closed Monday, Feb. 17 Franklin: closed Monday, Feb. 17 Gadsden: closed Monday, Feb. 17 Gilchrist: closed Feb. 13, 14 and closed Monday, Feb. 17 Glades: closed Monday, Feb. 17 Gulf: closed Monday, Feb. 17 Hamilton: closed Monday, Feb. 17 and Feb. 18 Hardee: closed Monday, Feb. 17 Hendry: closed Monday, Feb. 17 Hernando: closed Monday, Feb. 17 Highlands: open Monday, Feb. 17; closed Friday, Feb. 14 Hillsborough: closed Monday, Feb. 17; closed Friday, Feb. 14 Holmes: closed Monday, Feb. 17 Indian River: closed Monday, Feb. 17; closed Friday, Feb. 14 Jackson: open on Monday, Feb. 17 Jefferson: closed Monday, Feb. 17 Lafayette: closed Monday, Feb. 17 Lake: closed Monday, Feb. 17 Lee: closed Monday, Feb. 17 Leon: closed Monday, Feb. 17 Levy: closed Monday, Feb. 17 Liberty: closed Monday, Feb. 17 Madison: closed Monday, Feb. 17 Manatee: closed Monday, Feb. 17 Marion: closed Monday, Feb. 17 Martin: closed Monday, Feb. 17 Miami-Dade: closed Monday, Feb. 17 Monroe: closed Monday, Feb. 17 and Feb. 14 Nassau: closed Monday, Feb. 17 Okaloosa: closed Monday, Feb. 17 Okeechobee: closed Monday, Feb. 17 Orange: closed Monday, Feb. 17 Osceola: open Monday, Feb. 17; closed Feb. 21 for Rodeo Day Palm Beach: open Monday, Feb. 17 Pasco: closed Monday, Feb. 17 Pinellas: open Monday, Feb. 17 Polk: closed Monday, Feb. 17 Putnam: closed Monday, Feb. 17 Santa Rosa: closed Monday, Feb. 17 Sarasota: closed Monday, Feb. 17 Seminole: closed Monday, Feb. 17 St. Johns: closed Monday, Feb. 17 St. Lucie: closed Monday, Feb. 17 Sumter: closed Monday, Feb. 17 Suwannee: closed Monday, Feb. 17 Taylor: closed Monday, Feb. 17 Union: closed Monday, Feb. 17 Volusia: closed Monday, Feb. 17 Wakulla: closed Monday, Feb. 17 and Feb. 14 Walton: closed Monday, Feb. 17 Washington: closed Monday, Feb. 17 In 2025, there are 12 instead of the usual 11 federal holidays, although two fell on the same day. Inauguration Day and Martin Luther King Jr. Day both fall on Jan. 20 this year. Since 1965, federal employees in the Washington, D.C., area are entitled to a holiday on the day a president is inaugurated. President-elect Donald Trump will be sworn into office on Jan. 20. ➤ Trump Inauguration week Here are 2025 federal holidays: Jan. 1: New Year's Day Jan. 20: Inauguration Day; Martin Luther King Jr. Day Feb. 17: Washington's Birthday. Many state and local governments designation it as Presidents Day. May 26: Memorial Day June 19: Juneteenth July 4: Independence Day Sept. 1: Labor Day Oct. 13: Columbus Day Nov. 11: Veterans Day Nov. 27: Thanksgiving Day Dec. 25: Christmas Day When are 2025 Florida state holidays? The Florida Department of Management Services lists the following days observed as paid holidays by state agencies: Jan. 1, Wednesday: New Year's Day Jan. 20, Monday: Martin Luther King Jr. Day May 26, Monday: Memorial Day July 4, Friday: Independence Day Sept. 1, Monday: Labor Day Nov. 11, Tuesday: Veterans Day Nov. 27, Thursday: Thanksgiving Nov. 28: Friday after Thanksgiving Dec. 25, Thursday: Christmas Day ➤ See list of 2025 Florida, federal holidays, including new one for Sunshine State Daylight saving time for 2025 will begin at 2 a.m. EST Sunday, March 9, 2025, and we fall back again at 2 a.m. EST on Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025. This means it will be darker in the morning, so watch for school children heading to the bus stop or heading to school. Alachua: March 17-21 Baker: March 17-21 Bay: March 17-21 Bradford: March 17-21 Brevard: March 17-21 Broward: March 24-28 Calhoun: March 17-21 Charlotte: March 17-21 Citrus: March 24-28 Clay: March 17-24 Collier: March 10-14 Columbia: March 17-21 DeSoto: March 10-14 Dixie: April 14-18 Duval: March 17-21 Escambia: March 17-21 Flagler: March 14-21 Franklin: March 17-21 Gadsden: March 10-14 Gilchrist: April 14-18 Glades: March 17-21 Gulf: March 17-21 Hamilton: April 14-21 Hardee: March 10-14 Hendry: March 17-21 Hernando: March 17-21 Highlands: March 10-14 Hillsborough: March 17-21 Holmes: March 17-21 Indian River: March 17-21 Jackson: March 17-21 Jefferson: March 10-14 Lafayette: April 14-18 Lake: March 10-14 Lee: March 17-21 Leon: March 10-14 Levy: April 14-18 Liberty: March 17-21 Madison: tentative spring break March 10-14 Manatee: March 17-21 Marion: March 17-21 Martin: March 17-21 Miami-Dade: March 24-28 Monroe: March 14-21 Nassau: March 17-24 Okaloosa: March 14-24 Okeechobee: March 17-24 Orange: March 17-21 Osceola: March 17-24 Palm Beach: March 24-28 Pasco: March 17-21 Pinellas: March 17-21 Polk: March 17-21 Putnam: March 17-21 Santa Rosa: March 17-21 Sarasota: March 17-21 Seminole: March 17-21 St. Johns: March 17-21 St. Lucie: March 17-24 Sumter: March 3-7 Suwannee: April 14-18 Taylor: April 7-11 Union: March 24-28 Volusia: March 17-21 Wakulla: March 17-21 Walton: March 17-21 Washington: March 17-21 Alachua: Schools open on April 18. Baker: Schools open on April 18. Bay: Schools closed April 18 Bradford: Schools closed April 18 Brevard: Schools open April 18 for hurricane makeup day Broward: Schools closed April 18 Calhoun: Schools closed April 18 Charlotte: Schools closed April 18 Citrus: Schools closed April 18 and April 21 Clay: Schools closed April 18 Collier: Schools closed April 18 Columbia: Schools closed April 18 DeSoto: Schools closed April 18 Dixie: Spring break continues through April 18 Duval: Schools closed April 18 Escambia: Schools closed April 18 Flagler: Schools open on April 18 Franklin: Schools closed April 18 Gadsden: Schools closed April 18 Gilchrist: Spring break continues through April 18 Glades: Schools closed April 18 Gulf: Schools closed April 18-April 21 Hamilton: Spring break continues through April 18 Hardee: Schools closed April 18 Hendry: Schools closed April 18-April 21 Hernando: Schools closed April 18 Highlands: Schools closed April 18 Hillsborough: Schools closed April 18 Holmes: Schools open April 18 Indian River: Schools closed April 18 Jackson: Schools closed April 18 Jefferson: Spring break continues through April 18 Lafayette: Schools closed April 18 Lake: Schools closed April 18 Lee: Schools closed April 18, 21 Leon: Schools closed April 18 Levy: Spring break continues through April 18 Liberty: Schools closed April 18 Madison: Schools closed April 18 Manatee: Schools closed April 18 Marion: Schools closed April 18 Martin: Schools closed April 18, 21 Miami-Dade: Schools closed April 18 Monroe: Schools closed April 18 Nassau: Schools open April 18 Okaloosa: Schools open April 18 Okeechobee: Schools closed April 18 Orange: Schools open April 18 Osceola: Schools open April 18 Palm Beach: Schools closed April 18 Pasco: Schools closed April 18, 21 Pinellas: Schools closed April 18 Polk: Schools closed April 18 Putnam: Schools closed April 18 Santa Rosa: Schools closed April 18 Sarasota: Schools closed April 18 Seminole: Schools open April 18 St. Johns: Schools closed April 18 St. Lucie: Schools closed April 18 Sumter: Schools closed April 18 Suwannee: Spring break continues through April 18 Taylor: Schools open April 18 Union: Schools closed April 18 Volusia: Schools open April 18 Wakulla: Schools closed April 18 Walton: Schools closed April 18 Washington: Schools open April 18 Alachua: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. June 3 last day of school Baker: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 28 last day of school Bay: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 28 last day of school Bradford: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 28 last day of school Brevard: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 28 last day of school Broward: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. June 5 last day of school Calhoun: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 28 last day of school Charlotte: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 29 last day of school Citrus: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 30 last day of school Clay: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 30 last day of school Collier: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 30 last day of school Columbia: May 23 last day of school DeSoto: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 29 last day of school Dixie: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. June 2 last day of school Duval: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 30 last day of school Escambia: May 23 last day of school Flagler: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 29 last day of school Franklin: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 29 last day of school Gadsden: May 23 last day of school Gilchrist: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 30 last day of school Glades: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 30 last day of school Gulf: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 28 last day of school Hamilton: May 23 last day of school Hardee: May 23 last day of school Hendry: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 29 last day of school Hernando: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 30 last day of school Highlands: May 23 last day of school Hillsborough: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 30 last day of school Holmes: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 28 last day of school Indian River: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 30 last day of school Jackson: May 23 last day of school Jefferson: May 23 last day of school Lafayette: May 23 last day of school Lake: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 29 last day of school Lee: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. June 3 last day of school Leon: May 23 last day of school Levy: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 30 last day of school Liberty: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 30 last day of school Madison: May 22 last day of school Manatee: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 30 last day of school Martin: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 29 last day of school Miami-Dade: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. June 5 last day of school Monroe: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 30 last day of school Nassau: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 30 last day of school Okaloosa: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 29 last day of school Okeechobee: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 29 last day of school Orange: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 28 last day of school Osceola: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 30 last day of school Palm Beach: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 30 last day of school Pasco: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 30 last day of school Pinellas: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 29 last day of school Polk: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 29 last day of school Putnam: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 30 last day of school Santa Rosa: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 29 last day of school Sarasota: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 29 last day of school Seminole: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 28 last day of school St. Johns: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 30 last day of school St. Lucie: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. June 2 last day of school Sumter: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. June 3 last day of school Suwannee: May 23 last day of school Taylor: May 21 last day of school Union: May 23 last day of school Volusia: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 28 last day of school Wakulla: May 23 last day of school Walton: Closed May 26 for Memorial Day. May 30 last day of school Washington: May 23 last day of school This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Is there school today in Florida for Presidents' Day holiday?
