A series of unfortunate events led to the fatal shooting of Senior Airman Roger Fortson, 23, by Okaloosa County Sheriff's Deputy Eddie Duran on May 3, 2023. The incident occurred at Fortson's apartment in response to a domestic disturbance call.
According to reports from various sources,
Deputy Duran arrived at the scene and was directed to Fortson's apartment by a leasing agent who had received a call about a couple fighting. Upon arrival, Duran identified himself but did not receive an answer. He then heard loud banging at the door and saw aggression and anger through the peephole.
Fortson opened the door while holding a legally purchased handgun pointed towards the floor. Deputy Duran shouted 'Step back!' and shot Fortson six times, despite no hostile or attacking movements being observed by investigators.
The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office conducted an internal investigation and concluded that Duran's use of deadly force was not objectively reasonable under their policy. As a result, he was terminated from his position.
Fortson, who served in the U.S. Air Force as a special missions aviator on an AC-130J Ghostrider gunship at Hurlburt Field, was an exceptional individual by all accounts.
Tenants near Fortson's apartment had previously called the sheriff's office for domestic disturbances, but none were recorded at his apartment before the shooting incident. Deputy Duran had begun his law enforcement career as a military police officer in the Army and joined the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office in July 2019, but resigned two years later before rejoining 11 months ago.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is conducting a separate criminal investigation into the shooting. No charges have been filed against Deputy Duran at this time.
