Florida lawmaker fired after investigation into killing of black US airman

The Florida deputy responsible for the killing of a black U.S. Air Force airman in early May was fired after an investigation found he violated sheriff's office policy.

On Friday, the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office announced that Deputy Eddie Duran had been fired due to the results of an internal investigation. Duran was found to have no reason to use deadly force when he shot and killed Roger Fortson in Fortson's apartment.

“This tragic incident should never have happened,” said Okaloosa County Sheriff Eric Aden. “The objective facts do not support the use of deadly force as an appropriate response to Mr. Fortson’s actions. Mr. Fortson did not commit any crime. By all accounts, he was an exceptional aviator and individual.

On May 3, Duran was called to an apartment complex after a possible “physical disturbance” was reported. After receiving the apartment number, the deputy went to the apartment.

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What happened next, which was recorded on the deputy's body camera, led to Fortson's death. Since the shooting, the exact events that led Duran to shoot Fortson have been disputed. At the time, his attorney said the deputy stormed the wrong apartment even though the sheriff's office said otherwise.

On Friday, the sheriff's office also released the “objective facts” about what happened as part of the internal affairs investigation.

When Doran arrived at Fortson's door, he listened for sounds of a possible disturbance, the sheriff's office said. Hearing nothing, he knocked without announcing that he was a deputy with the sheriff's office.

Doran said he heard “something like it was the (exhaustive) police,” the sheriff's office said. Doran knocked loudly twice more, this time announcing that he was at the sheriff's office.

When Forston opened the door, Doran saw him holding a gun in his right hand. The gun was pointed toward the ground “enough so that the former deputy could clearly see the rear side of the rear sight,” according to the sheriff's office account.

In its finding, the sheriff's office concluded that Fortson did not physically resist in any way and did not point the gun at Doran, which was seen on previously released body camera footage.

Attorney Ben Crump, who represents Fortson's family, said firing Doran is not enough.

“Firing the officer who shot Roger Fortson is a step forward, but it is not complete justice for Roger and his family,” Crump said. “This deputy's actions were not only negligent, they were criminal.”

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is still conducting a criminal investigation into the shooting.

“Just as we did for Botham Jean, Atatiana Jefferson and Breonna Taylor, we will continue to fight for justice and full accountability for Roger Fortson, as well as all the other innocent black men and women gunned down by law enforcement. order in the presumed safety of their own home,” Crump said.