The family of Roger Fortson, a U.S. airman who was shot in his own home by a Florida sheriff’s deputy in 2024, recently announced that they will take legal action against the deputy, the sheriff and the owner of the complex in which Fortson lived.
Announced early on Tuesday at a press conference, the family alleged in their complaint that Deputy Eddie Duran used unconstitutional deadly force when he shot Forston moments after the airman opened the door. The wrongful death lawsuit also names the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, citing failures in their training and supervision, as well as the complex’s staff for providing inaccurate information about Forston’s apartment.
Although she expressed having “no faith” in Okaloosa County, Forston’s mother, Meka Forston, emphasized the need for justice for her son’s murder.
“I want accountability because he was 23. I want accountability because he had a life ahead of him,” she said per AP News. “I want accountability because he was in his own home.”
A year ago, on May 3rd, Duran went to Forston’s apartment after a domestic disturbance was reported. The claim eventually was discovered to be false.
Captured on body camera footage, Duran first met with the apartment manager, who led him to Forston’s home, claiming that there were often arguments in the apartment despite the fact that the airman lived alone and had no visitors that day.
Duran reportedly continued to listen for voices- none of which were picked up by his camera- before pounding at the door. Per Forston’s girlfriend, who was on call, the deputy failed to identify himself while doing so.
While approaching the door, Forston reportedly grabbed a weapon as he was initially hesitant to open the door on account of the fact that he did not receive many visitors. When he opened the door with a weapon in arm, Duran began to shoot his own gun, telling him to drop the weapon. Forston reportedly responded, telling him that it was already “over there.” At that point, Forston was already shot with multiple wounds, of which he eventually succumbed to in the hospital.
Duran was reportedly terminated in May, although the sheriff’s office initially defended his actions, calling them “not objectively reasonable.”
Three months after the murder, he was charged with manslaughter with a firearm. The charge holds a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison.
Initially denied bail, Duran was released on a $100,000 bond set by Judge Terrance R. Ketchel after requests from the state priced bail at $250,000 and his attorney requested bail for $10,000.
No further news has been reported about the case and Duran is no longer listed as an inmate at the Escambia County Jail, according to NBC News.
