Lawyer vows to seek accountability after ex-deputy acquitted in Black airman's death

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump vowed to "seek accountability" for the 2024 shooting death of US Air Force airman Roger Fortson after a jury in Florida acquitted former sheriff's deputy Eddie Duran of manslaughter. Duran's defense attorney stated the former deputy was "doing his job" and that Fortson would be alive had he not armed himself before opening his door.

The verdict followed a four-day trial and about two hours of deliberations. Duran, who was a deputy with the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office, fatally shot Fortson, 23, shortly after Fortson opened his apartment door on May 3, 2024. Video from Duran's body camera showed Fortson opening his door while holding a handgun at his side, pointed toward the floor, at which point the deputy immediately opened fire multiple times at close range. Fortson later died at the hospital.

The office of State Attorney Ginger Bowden Madden acknowledged the verdict would cause pain and anger, particularly for those who view Fortson's death within a national context of law enforcement encounters. Okaloosa Sheriff Eric Aden had fired Duran a month after the shooting, stating the use of deadly force was not reasonable.

Crump, who has secured multimillion-dollar settlements for families of other Black individuals killed by police, has filed a federal civil rights case against Duran, the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office, and others on behalf of Fortson's family. "Roger's life and his service will always matter. His family will keep fighting for him, and we will stand with them as they pursue their civil rights case in federal court and seek accountability for the tragic loss of life," Crump said.

Duran's defense attorney, Rod Smith, described the incident as a "tragedy" but not a crime, asserting his client followed his training upon seeing an armed man. Smith suggested Fortson should have "simply opened the door" without holding a gun. Fortson's family stated the deputy knocked on the wrong door while responding to a disturbance complaint, and prosecutors presented evidence that the deputies were not responding to a complaint involving Fortson.

Fortson, a senior airman, served in the 4th Special Operations Squadron at Hurlburt Field and was posthumously awarded the Air and Space Commendation Medal.