The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office has fired Deputy Eddie Duran, who fatally shot Senior Airman Roger Fortson on May 3 in his home after responding to a domestic violence call and being erroneously directed to his apartment.
Bodycam footage of the encounter shows the officer shooting Fortson, 23, multiple times after he answered the door. Fortson was holding a legally owned firearm in his right hand that was pointed at the ground when he answered his door.
A sheriff’s internal affairs investigation released Friday concluded that, “Mr. Fortson did not make any hostile, attacking movements, and therefore, the former deputy’s use of deadly force was not objectively reasonable.” Outside law enforcement experts have also said that an officer cannot shoot only because a possible suspect is holding a gun if there is no threat.
“This tragic incident should have never…
