On Friday, Okaloosa County Sheriff Eric Aden dismissed Deputy Eddie Duran after the fatal shooting of Senior Airman Roger Fortson at his home. The decision was based on the conclusion that Duran’s life was not in immediate danger, and his use of deadly force was deemed unreasonable.
The tragic event occurred on May 3 when Duran responded to a domestic violence call and was directed to Fortson’s apartment. Upon Fortson opening the door with a legally owned handgun pointed to the ground, Duran shot him multiple times within two seconds. Fortson, 23, was Black, while Duran, 39, identifies as Hispanic.
An internal affairs investigation determined that Fortson did not exhibit any hostile behavior, making Duran’s use of deadly force unjustifiable. The report highlighted that an officer cannot legally shoot someone solely because they are holding a gun without a clear threat.
