Roger Fortson was a United States Air Force Senior Airman who was fatally shot by Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office deputy Eddie Duran at Fortson's apartment in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, on 3 May 2024.
Fortson's death became a national police-accountability case after body-camera footage and an internal affairs review raised questions about the deputy's use of deadly force. Duran was later fired and charged with first-degree manslaughter with a firearm. As of March 2026, he had pleaded not guilty and a trial was scheduled for 28 September 2026.
Background
Fortson was 23 years old and was assigned to the 4th Special Operations Squadron at Hurlburt Field. The Associated Press reported that he served as a special missions aviator and worked on AC-130J Ghostrider gunship missions.
The Air Force identified him after the shooting and said its priorities included casualty support for his family and support for affected squadron members.
Shooting
On 3 May 2024, Duran responded to a reported disturbance at Fortson's apartment complex. Reporting and later investigation described the information given to Duran as limited and indirect.
Body-camera footage showed Fortson opening his apartment door while holding a handgun pointed towards the ground. Duran fired within seconds. Fortson was taken to hospital and died from his injuries.
Fortson's family, represented by civil rights lawyer Ben Crump, disputed the sheriff's office's early account and said Fortson had been alone in his own apartment and had not threatened the deputy.
Internal Affairs Finding
On 31 May 2024, the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office announced that Duran had been terminated. The agency said its administrative internal affairs investigation found that the use of deadly force was not objectively reasonable and violated agency policy.
The sheriff's office stated that its administrative review was separate from the criminal investigation and that Fortson was not the subject of either investigation.
Criminal Case
Duran was later charged with first-degree manslaughter with a firearm in connection with Fortson's death. WUWF reported on 9 March 2026 that Duran had pleaded not guilty and that his trial had been set for 28 September 2026.
The same report said the shooting happened after a reported domestic disturbance that investigators later determined was unfounded. It also reported that Duran's lawyers planned to argue self-defence.
Public Response
The case drew national attention because Fortson was killed inside his home, because he was a serving airman, and because the sheriff's office later found the deputy's use of force unreasonable under agency policy.
Fortson's family and supporters continued to call for accountability beyond the deputy's dismissal. The case also became part of wider discussion about police responses to disturbance calls, lawful gun possession in the home and the standards for deadly force.
References
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