Former cop arrested for fatally shooting US airman
A former Florida sheriff’s deputy has been arrested following an indictment for the fatal shooting of a US Air Force member at his home last week.
Eddie Duran, 38, was charged with manslaughter with a firearm in the death of 23-year-old Roger Fortson on Friday, although he was not taken into custody immediately.
The shooting occurred last May when Duran attempted to enter Fortson’s residence while responding to a domestic disturbance call at the apartment complex.
If convicted, Duran faces up to 30 years in prison for the felony charge.
Fortson was killed at his home, located 5 miles (8 km) from Hurlburt Field in Florida, where he was stationed.
Body camera footage released after the incident shows police being guided to an elevator in Fortson’s apartment complex by a witness who reported hearing a disturbance.
The deputy then approached Fortson’s front door alone, knocked, and twice called out that he was a member of the “sheriff’s office”.
Fortson was seen holding a gun in his right hand as he opened the door. The deputy then fired multiple shots as soon as the door opened, telling him afterward to drop the weapon.
Chantemekki Fortson, the senior airman’s mother, said at a news conference after the charges were announced on Friday that she hopes “this brings about change and it teaches others that you can’t just kill people”.
It was unclear on Monday evening whether Mr Duran had legal representation.
A few weeks after the shooting, Mr Duran was fired from the Oskaloosa County Sheriff’s Office following an internal investigation.
Announcing the decision, Sheriff Eric Aden said the investigation concluded that Fortson “did not make any hostile, attacking movements” and Mr. Duran’s “use of deadly force was not objectively reasonable”.
Ben Crump, a lawyer representing Forton’s family, said at the time of the shooting Fortson was home alone on a video call with a friend.
Fortson, who had no criminal record, had been on active duty since 2019.
He was assigned to the 4th Special Operations Squadron, according to the US Air Force.
