Menu
Menu
“National civil rights and personal injury attorney Ben Crump and the family of Senior Airman Roger Fortson issued the following statement, responding to the State Attorney’s decision to file charges against the sheriff’s deputy who shot and killed Fortson in his apartment more than three months ago.
Senior Airman Roger Fortson was fatally shot by a law enforcement officer in his Ft. Walton Beach apartment on May 3, 2024. According to the family and video footage, Fortson complied with the officer’s commands, making the use of deadly force unnecessary.
“This decision marks the first step towards justice for the family of Roger Fortson. Nothing can ever bring Roger back, and our fight is far from over, but we are hopeful that this arrest and these charges will result in real justice for the Fortson family. Let this be a reminder to law enforcement officers everywhere that they swore a solemn oath to protect and defend, and their actions have consequences, especially when it results in the loss of life.”“
The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office released a statement some 15 minutes after the State Attorney’s Office that read, in part, “We continue to wish Mr. Fortson’s family comfort and peace, as the former deputy’s criminal case proceeds.” The statement claims that the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office has a committment to transparency and cited the release of body camera footage, statements from the Sheriff’s Office and “compliance with statutory requirements” as evidence of their openess.
“We stand by our decision to terminate Mr. Duran as a result of the adminstrative internal affairs investigation that found his use of force was not objectively reasonable,” the statement concluded.
The Office of the State Attorney put out this press release in regard to the charges against Duran:
“State Attorney Ginger Bowden Madden announced today that a direct information has been filed charging former Okaloosa County Deputy Sheriff Eddie Lee Duran, Jr., with one count of Manslaughter with a
Firearm. This charge arises from an incident on May 3, 2024, that resulted in the shooting death of Roger Fortson.
A warrant for Duran’s arrest is outstanding at this time. If convicted as
charged, Duran faces a maximum sentence of thirty years in state prison.”
State Attorney Ginger Bowden Madden’s Office charged Former Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Deputy Eddie Duran with manslaughter in the May 3 shooting death of Roger Fortson in his home.
Unnamed sources within the State Attorney’s Office confirmed charges would be brought in the case which stems from the shooting death that took place on an emergency call at the Chez Élan Apartment Homes in Greater Fort Walton Beach. Those sources confirmed that the FDLE report on the shooting had been ‘manually transferred’ from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to the Madden’s office and that the office does not “have a recorded receipt for this case.”
Okaloosa Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Michele Nicholson told Mid Bay News “There will be a written statement issued today,” in an email.
Earlier this month, Tallahassee-based civil-rights attorney Ben Crump held a press conference at Greater Peace Missionary Baptist Church in Fort Walton Beach to demand charges be brought against Duran.
In June, Roger Fortson’s mother, Chantemekki Fortson, laid the blame for the death of her son at the hand of a now former Okaloosa Sheriff’s Deputy.
We’ve never needed local news more than we have today. With newspapers going out of business and fewer reporters around to watchdog local government, cover events or sports, and make sure you know what’s going on in your community
Donate today to keep local, independent and accountable journalism in your community today!
Plus, we’ll give you some cool swag when you make your donation monthly.
Stop scrolling social media to find out what’s going on in Niceville. Sign up for our weekly newsletter for the info impacting your daily life!
