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3mo ago

Family of U.S. Airman Killed by Florida Deputy Files Federal Civil Rights Lawsuit

The lawsuit, led by Ben Crump, alleges unconstitutional use of deadly force, training failures, and misinformation in Roger Fortson's fatal shooting.

FILE - Candles and framed photos of Roger Fortson, a U.S. Air Force senior airman who was fatally shot by a Fla. sheriff's deputy on May 3, 2024, sit in the doorway of the apartment where he was killed in Fort Walton Beach, Fla., on Aug. 23. (AP Photo/Kate Payne, File)
FILE - Friends and family of Roger Fortson watch as his casket leaves for the cemetery at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church on May 17, 2024, in Stonecrest, Ga. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, File)
FILE - Chantemekki Fortson, mother of Roger Fortson, holds a photo of her son during a news conference, May 9, 2024, in Fort Walton Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)
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Overview

  • Senior Airman Roger Fortson, a Black 23-year-old, was fatally shot by Deputy Eddie Duran at his apartment door in May 2024 after responding to a false disturbance report.
  • The lawsuit, filed on May 6, 2025, claims Duran used excessive and unconstitutional deadly force and highlights alleged failures in training and supervision at the sheriff's office.
  • Body camera footage shows Duran firing immediately after telling Fortson to 'Step back,' with Fortson holding a legally purchased handgun pointed downward at his side.
  • Okaloosa County Sheriff Eric Aden fired Duran following an internal investigation that concluded the shooting was unjustified and Duran's life was not in danger.
  • Duran, who has pleaded not guilty to a manslaughter charge, faces a pretrial hearing on May 20, while the case has reignited discussions on race, policing, and Florida’s 'stand your ground' law.