Fired Florida deputy acquitted in killing of Black U.S. airman from Georgia – CBS News

Fired Florida deputy acquitted in killing of Black U.S. airman from Georgia  CBS News

A former Florida sheriff's deputy has been found not guilty of manslaughter with a firearm in the killing of Roger Fortson, a Black U.S. Air Force airman fatally shot at his apartment during a domestic disturbance call.An Okaloosa County jury acquitted Eddie Duran, 38, on Thursday. Duran had faced up to 30 years in prison.Duran, who is Hispanic, worked for the Okaloosa County sheriff's department in May 2024 when he responded to Fortson's Fort Walton Beach apartment near Hurlburt Field, where the airman was stationed.The sheriff's office had said the deputy "reacted in self-defense after he encountered a 23-year-old man armed with a gun." The shooting was captured on the deputy's body camera.The video shows the deputy banging on the door and stepping aside, seemingly out of view of the door.

Twice he shouted: "Sheriff's office! Open the door!"Fortson opened the door and could be seen holding what appeared to be a handgun pointed down toward the floor. The deputy shouted, "Step back!" and fired off shots. He then shouted, "Drop the gun! Drop the gun!""It's over there," Fortson said."Drop the gun!" the deputy yelled back."I don't have it," Fortson said, lying on the ground.The deputy then called paramedics on his radio.Fortson later died at a hospital. The domestic disturbance report that led Duran to Fortson's apartment turned out to