Florida deputy fired after killing black airman

A Florida sheriff's deputy has been fired following the death of Roger Fortson, a black airman who was fatally shot at his apartment door.

Fortson, who was based at the Hurlburt Field Special Operations Wing, was in his off-base apartment in Fort Walton Beach when he was shot and killed by Okaloosa County Sheriff's Deputy Eddie Duran on 3 may. call at that time.

In announcing Duran's firing Friday, Okaloosa County Sheriff Eric Aden said the officer's life was not in danger at any time during the interaction and he should not have fired with his weapon.

“The objective facts do not support the use of deadly force as an appropriate response to Mr. Fortson’s actions,” Aden said in a statement.

Bodycam footage released last month shows Duran arriving at Fortson's apartment, then standing outside the door and trying to listen for any commotion inside. After about 30 seconds, he knocks on the door, but no one answers.

He then strikes again, this time identifying himself as law enforcement. Duran strikes once more, before Fortson, gun in hand, appears in the doorway. The gun was in his hand and pointed toward the ground at the time.

Duran then shot Fortson, 23, four times just two seconds after opening his door.

“Mr. Fortson did not make any hostile attack moves and, therefore, the former deputy's use of deadly force was not objectively reasonable,” Aden said.

Fortson's family called the shooting “unjustifiable” and speculated that the deputy had the wrong apartment.

Fortson was alone in the apartment at the time of the shooting, according to the Fortson family's attorney.

No criminal charges have been filed, but an investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is ongoing.

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