Deputy sheriff who shot black pilot was fired

From BlackMansStreet.Today | Special to the Trice Edney News Wire

(TriceEdneyWire.com/BlackMansStreet.Today) – A Florida sheriff on Friday fired a deputy who shot and killed a black U.S. Air Force member in his home, saying the use of deadly force was inappropriate.

The Okaloosa Sheriff has fired Deputy Eddie Duran, but it is still unclear whether he will be charged in the May 3 killing of 23-year-old Roger Fortson of Fort Walton Beach.

This concludes the sheriff’s investigation, but an investigation in the state of Florida is still ongoing.

“This tragic incident should never have happened,” said Okaloosa County Sheriff Eric Aden. “The objective facts do not justify the use of deadly force as an appropriate response to Mr. Fortson’s actions.”

The sheriff added: “Mr. Fortson committed no crime. By all accounts, he was an exceptional pilot and human being.”

This reflects the same thing Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz said about Duran’s fatal shooting.

“The killing of Airman Roger Fortson in my community continues to be a source of deep sadness. As the investigation continues, I think one thing is clear from the body cam and should be stated unequivocally: Roger did not deserve to die. He did nothing wrong,” Gaetz said (May 13, 2024).

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who represents Fortson’s family, said in a statement that the dismissal was a step in the right direction, but “it is not complete justice for Roger and his family. The actions of this deputy were not just negligent, they were criminal.”

“While the criminal investigation is ongoing, we expect charges will be filed against this officer. The video footage provides overwhelming evidence that this was a brutal and senseless killing of a young man who was simply enjoying time alone with his dog while video chatting with his girlfriend.

He mentioned other black men and women who were gunned down in their homes, which were supposed to serve as places of refuge for them.

“Just as we did for Botham Jean, Atatiana Jefferson and Breonna Taylor, we will continue to fight for full justice and accountability for Roger Fortson, as well as every other innocent Black man and woman who have been gunned down by police in the perceived safety of their own home,” Crump said.

Fortson was shot in his apartment after he opened the door. Duran shot him five times, killing him.

Forston was armed with a legally purchased weapon, but he aimed it at the ground rather than at Duran.

Fortson lived in an off-base apartment building, and his special operations squadron at Hurlburt Field in the Florida Panhandle flies AC-130J Ghostrider attack helicopters.

A woman reported to police that there had been an altercation between a man and a woman at Fortson’s apartment, 1401, and that there were children in the apartment.

There were no children living in Fortson’s apartment; it is unclear how the unnamed woman obtained her information.

Crump said there was no disturbance and that Fortson was home alone and on a video call with his girlfriend, who reported that the pilot heard a knock on the door.

According to the witness, Fortson asked, “Who is there?” but received no answer.

After an “aggressive” second knock and not seeing anyone through the peephole, Fortson grabbed his legally purchased gun, Crump said.

From BlackMansStreet.Today | Special to the Trice Edney News Wire

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