A Florida jury acquitted former Okaloosa County Sheriff's deputy Eddie Duran of manslaughter on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026, in the 2024 shooting death of U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Roger Fortson. Following the four-day trial, jurors reached the not guilty verdict after approximately two hours of deliberation.
The incident occurred on May 3, 2024, when Duran responded to a disturbance complaint at an apartment complex. Fortson’s family stated the deputy knocked on the wrong door, and prosecutors presented evidence during the trial that the complaint Duran was investigating did not involve Fortson. Body camera video showed Fortson was holding a handgun at his side and pointed toward the floor when he opened the door. Okaloosa Sheriff Eric Aden fired Duran a month after the shooting, stating the use of deadly force was not reasonable.
Defense attorney Rod Smith said Friday that Duran was following his training after encountering an armed individual and characterized the event as a tragedy rather than a crime. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, representing Fortson’s family, vowed to continue seeking accountability through a federal civil rights lawsuit against Duran and the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office. The Air Force posthumously awarded Fortson, who served in the 4th Special Operations Squadron, the Air and Space Commendation Medal for meritorious service.
The acquittal concludes the state criminal proceedings for Duran. State Attorney Ginger Bowden Madden acknowledged the verdict would cause "pain, anger, or disappointment" for those viewing the case within the national context of law enforcement encounters and urged the public to respond peacefully.
Crump has filed a federal civil rights case against Duran and the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office. While the specific dollar amount sought in this case was not reported, Crump has previously secured settlements of $27 million and $12 million for families in other cases. Unlike the criminal trial, which required proof beyond a reasonable doubt for a conviction, the civil case remains active in federal court. No specific dates for hearings or a federal trial were reported following the acquittal.