Florida deputy fired after investigation into Roger Fortson murder

On Friday, the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) fired the police officer who shot and killed 23-year-old Senior Airman Roger Fortson in his Fort Walton Beach apartment on May 3.

After completing an internal administrative investigation, the OCSO concluded that Deputy Eddie Duran’s use of deadly force was objectively unreasonable and therefore violated agency policy.

“This tragic incident should never have happened,” said Okaloosa County Sheriff Eric Aden. “The objective facts do not justify the use of deadly force as an appropriate response to Mr. Fortson’s actions.”

The OCSO launched the investigation immediately after the shooting. It is separate from the ongoing criminal investigation that is still underway at the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE).

The official investigation revealed the following objective facts about the incident:

• The former deputy was called to an ongoing physical altercation at an apartment complex at 319 Racetrack Road NW. Dispatch records confirm the altercation occurred at Unit 1401.
• Upon arrival at the apartment complex to which he was dispatched, the former deputy met with an apartment complex employee who identified Unit 1401 as the location of the disturbance and advised the former deputy that there had been recent unreported disturbances in or around the same apartment complex.
• The former deputy’s contact with the apartment complex employee and all further actions were recorded by his body-worn camera.
• When he arrived at the door of Unit 1401, the former deputy listened for any noises that indicated a disturbance in the apartment. When he heard none, he knocked without warning and waited for an answer. When describing what he heard, the former deputy said he heard, “Something like, ‘That’s the damn police.'”
• The former deputy knocked loudly twice more, both times announcing “Sheriff’s Office.” The agency’s investigation revealed that the former deputy knocked three times and announced his presence twice within approximately 40 seconds.
• When Mr. Fortson opened the door, the former deputy saw that Mr. Fortson was holding a firearm in his right hand. The gun was pointed so far toward the ground that the former deputy could clearly see the back of the sight.
• The former deputy confirmed that Mr. Fortson did not offer any physical resistance to him, and the investigation revealed that Mr. Fortson did not point the weapon in the direction of the former deputy.

“I want to thank our dedicated team for their 24/7 efforts to ensure a thorough review of the facts here,” Sheriff Aden said in a post. “Since the tragedy, our office has fully and transparently complied with legal requirements, made numerous public statements, made available body-worn camera footage and other related records, met with Mr. Fortson’s family and legal counsel, and communicated openly with the U.S. Air Force and our community at large. We wish Mr. Fortson’s family continued comfort and peace.”

Click here to access the full investigation into internal administrative matters.

Copyright © 2024 WFSU