The Aporia · Florida jury finds ex-sheriff’s deputy not guilty in shooting death of Black air force airman

A Florida jury acquitted former sheriff’s deputy Eddie Duran of manslaughter in the shooting death of Roger Fortson, a Black US air force airman. The incident occurred after a false domestic disturbance report led Duran to Fortson’s apartment, where he shot and killed Fortson, who was holding a handgun at his side when the door was opened. Despite facing up to 30 years in prison, Duran was acquitted by an Okaloosa county jury that deliberated for about two hours following a four-day trial. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump announced that while criminal prosecution has concluded, Fortson’s family will continue their fight through civil court proceedings.

Written by AI on 2026-10-03, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

Story summary

In May 2024, Eddie Duran, a Hispanic former Okaloosa County sheriff's deputy in Florida, was found not guilty of manslaughter with a firearm for the fatal shooting of Roger Fortson, a Black U.S. Air Force airman stationed at Hurlburt Field near Fort Walton Beach. Duran had faced up to 30 years in prison if convicted. The shooting occurred after Duran responded to what turned out to be an unfounded report of a domestic disturbance at Fortson’s apartment. Body camera footage showed that when Fortson answered the door while holding a handgun pointed down toward the floor, Duran fired multiple shots and told Fortson to drop his weapon. After about two hours of deliberation, a jury acquitted Duran on Thursday following a four-day trial. The State Attorney's office acknowledged that the verdict may cause pain for many people, particularly those viewing it within the context of encounters nationally involving law enforcement.

Written for “Roger Fortson Shooting Trial” on 2026-10-31, grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.

📰 Roger Fortson Shooting Trial

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Fired deputy acquitted of manslaughter in US Airman Roger Fortson’s shooting death Same event

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A Florida jury recently found former sheriff’s deputy Eddie Duran not guilty of manslaughter with a firearm in the fatal shooting of Roger Fortson, a Black US air force airman who was killed inside his apartment after authorities responded to an unfounded report of a domestic disturbance.

framing: assertive · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-10-03

🔮 Duran, who is Hispanic, was an Okaloosa county sheriff’s deputy in May 2024 when he was sent to Fortson’s apartment in Fort Walton Beach where Fortson – originally from Atlanta – was stationed.

2026-10-03 · The Guardian

Florida jury finds ex-sheriff’s deputy not guilty in shooting death of Black air force airman · assertive framing

authorities → find → disturbance

An Okaloosa county jury acquitted Duran, 38, on Thursday after about two hours of deliberations. asserted

jury → acquit → deliberations

He had faced up to 30 years in prison if convicted. asserted

He → face → prison

Duran, who is Hispanic, was an Okaloosa county sheriff’s deputy in May 2024 when he was sent to Fortson’s apartment in Fort Walton Beach where Fortson – originally from Atlanta – was stationed. uncertain

Fortson → send → Atlanta

Authorities have said Duran was directed to the apartment after a report of a domestic disturbance that turned out to be false. asserted

that → say → disturbance

After Duran repeatedly knocked on the door, Fortson answered while holding a handgun at his side with the weapon pointed toward the ground. asserted

weapon → knock → ground

Authorities say Duran fired multiple times before telling Fortson to drop the gun. asserted

Duran → say → gun

The encounter was captured on the deputy’s body camera. asserted

encounter → capture → camera

Thursday’s verdict came after a four-day trial. asserted

verdict → come → trial

One day after Duran was acquitted, civil rights attorney Ben Crump said that Fortson’s family would continue its legal fight and vowed to “seek accountability” through the civil court system for the 2024 shooting. asserted

family → acquit → shooting

While the criminal prosecution has ended with Duran’s acquittal, a federal civil rights lawsuit filed by Fortson’s family remains pending. asserted

lawsuit → end → family

“Roger’s life and his service will always matter,” Crump said in a statement on Friday. asserted

Crump → matter → Friday

“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 his life. asserted

they → keep → life

Duran was fired from the Okaloosa sheriff’s office after killing Fortson. asserted

Duran → fire → Fortson

His defense attorney argued that the former deputy was “doing his job” and said Fortson would still be alive if he had not armed himself before answering the door. asserted

he → argue → door

Fortson’s mother, Chantemekki Fortson, told the Atlanta news outlet WXIA she was unsurprised by the verdict, citing the speed of the jury’s deliberations. asserted

she → tell → deliberations

“They went to deliberate for just two hours,” she said. asserted

she → go → hours

She also said the trial forced her to face details surrounding her son’s death that she had spent the previous two years trying to avoid. asserted

she → say → years

“Now I can’t do that,” she told WXIA. asserted

she → do → WXIA

“Like he’s really gone. asserted

he → go → ?

“He’s never coming back. asserted

He → come → ?

He’s never gonna say, ‘Mom, what you doing? asserted

you → go → what

Mom, you wanna go get something to eat? asserted

you → go → something

Mom, you need do your hair.’ asserted

you → need → hair

Like I’m never going to hear my baby’s voice no more.” asserted

I → go → voice

Florida jury finds ex-sheriff’s deputy not guilty in shooting death of Black air force airman

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