U.S. Air Force via AP, File
Eddie Duran, a former Okaloosa County Sheriffs Office deputy, has reportedly been charged three months after the fatal shooting of U.S. Airman Roger Fortson.
According to NBC News, Duran has been charged with manslaughter. The outlet adds that the update was reportedly confirmed by the chief assistant states attorney for Okaloosa County, Gregory Anchors.
Furthermore, the outlet reports that “manslaughter with a firearm” carries a “maximum sentence of 30 years in prison.”
“I hope this brings about change, and it teaches others that you cant just kill people,” Fortson’s mother, Chantemekki, reportedly told reporters after learning of Duran’s charges. “Because he should have waited for backup. And investigated a little more.”
“It still hurts,” she explained.
Meanwhile, the family’s attorney, Ben Crump, also shared a statement.
“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,” he said.
As The Shade Room previously reported, Fortson was a 23-year-old airman who was inside his Florida apartment when deputies knocked at his door on May 3. They reportedly arrived at the wrong apartment after allegedly receiving a call about a domestic disturbance.
Furthermore, when Fortson spoke out to inquire about who was there, he reportedly received no answer, and it appeared “as if someone was covering up the peephole” at his door.
Fortson reportedly was on FaceTime with his girlfriend and went to retrieve his gun out of concern for his safety. When he returned to the door, law enforcement officers allegedly barged in and initiated gunfire. Furthermore, the 23-year-old was reportedly shot six times.
Days after, body cam footage was released of the incident.
According to NBC News, Okaloosa County Sheriff Eric Aden announced Duran’s firing on May 31.
The objective facts of the administrative investigation concluded that Mr. Fortson did not make any hostile, attacking movements, and therefore, the former deputys use of deadly force was not objectively reasonable… This tragic incident should have never occurred,” Aden reportedly said at the time.
The outlet adds that as of Friday afternoon, Duran has not yet turned himself into authorities.
As The Shade Room previously reported, the Fortson family has also experienced another tragedy amid Roger’s passing. On July 31, the body of Roger’s younger brother, Andre, was reportedly discovered in Dekalb, Georgia.
Andre had reportedly been gunned down amid a shootout between “two groups of people,” per NBC News.
