A fired deputy, Eddie Duran, 38, was denied bond by a judge following the shooting death of 23-year-old Roger Fortson, a Black U.S. Air Force senior airman. Duran faces a manslaughter with a firearm charge, which is a first-degree felony in Florida carrying a potential sentence of up to 30 years in prison. Despite objections from his lawyer, Duran was ordered to remain in custody until a pre-trial detention hearing on Thursday.
Attorney Rod Smith, representing Duran as part of the legal team for the Florida Deputy Sheriffs Association, argued for his release, stating that Duran poses no flight risk and will attend all court proceedings. Smith expressed disagreement with the decision to charge Duran with a crime, indicating that the defense team will continue to contest the allegations.
The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office initially claimed that Duran acted in self-defense when he fatally shot Fortson after the airman answered his apartment door holding a gun. However, an internal investigation later found that Duran’s life was not in immediate danger at the time of the shooting. Experts in law enforcement stressed that an officer cannot use deadly force solely based on a suspect holding a firearm without posing a threat.
Fortson, who was on a FaceTime call with his girlfriend during the incident, opened the door while holding his gun pointed down. Duran fired multiple shots before instructing Fortson to drop the weapon. Duran stated to investigators that he believed he was in imminent danger due to aggression he perceived in Fortson’s demeanor.
The shooting prompted debate over Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law and concerns about a perceived increase in lethal encounters with Black individuals by law enforcement officers. Fortson’s funeral was attended by hundreds of Air Force members, family, and supporters in a suburban Atlanta megachurch, highlighting the impact of his tragic death on his community.
