Chantemekki Fortson : “Florida Deputy Fired for Shooting Airman Roger Fortson”

Chantemekki Fortson, mother of Roger Fortson, a U.S. Air Force senior airman, holds a photo of her son.

Michael A. McCoy

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Michael A. McCoy

Chantemekki Fortson, mother of Roger Fortson, a U.S. Air Force senior airman, holds a photo of her son.

Michael A. McCoy

The Florida deputy responsible for the fatal shooting of 23-year-old Roger Fortson in his home has been dismissed from his position.

In a press release issued on Friday, the Okaloosa County, Florida, Sheriff’s Department announced the termination of Deputy Eddie Duran following an administrative internal affairs investigation into Fortson’s death. The investigation concluded that Duran’s use of deadly force was not deemed “objectively reasonable,” thereby violating agency policy.

The sheriff’s office emphasized the importance of upholding its policy standards and expressed regret over the tragic incident. Sheriff Eric Aden stated, “This unfortunate event should never have happened. The facts do not support the use of lethal force as an appropriate response to Mr. Fortson’s actions. Mr. Fortson was not engaged in any criminal activity; he was a commendable airman and individual.”

Civil rights lawyer Ben Crump, part of the legal team representing Fortson’s family, expressed that while Duran’s dismissal is a positive step, it does not equate to full justice for Fortson and his loved ones.

“The actions of this deputy were not only negligent but also criminal,” Crump stated.

“As we have done for Botham Jean, Atatiana Jefferson, and Breonna Taylor, we will continue to advocate for complete justice and accountability for Roger Fortson, as well as every other innocent Black man and woman killed by law enforcement in their own homes,” he added.

Fortson tragically lost his life on May 3 during an encounter with the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office. According to reports, deputies were dispatched to Fortson’s residence in response to a disturbance call.

Fortson was alone in his apartment, communicating via video call with his girlfriend, when the deputy arrived at his door, as per the family’s legal representatives.

Body camera footage from the incident shows the deputy knocking on the door and identifying himself as law enforcement. Fortson then emerges with a gun pointed downwards. The deputy, subsequently identified as Duran, fired multiple shots immediately. Fortson succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.

Aden, in the aftermath of the shooting, asserted that Duran acted in self-defence when faced with an “armed individual.” Duran was subsequently placed on paid administrative leave, a standard procedure following an investigation and administrative evaluation by the sheriff’s department.

During a news conference on May 16, Crump played a recording where a police dispatch officer mentioned that the disturbance involved “a male and a female,” information allegedly received from a fourth-party at the apartment complex’s front desk.

“When you make a mistake, you must own up to it,” Crump told reporters. “You shouldn’t try to justify killing an innocent individual. The Okaloosa Sheriff’s Department needs to acknowledge this and tell the truth.”

In an interview with NPR, Fortson’s mother, Chantimekki Fortson, and Brian Barr, another family attorney, questioned the deputy’s training while urging for more transparency in the case.

“He served his family, he served the country, he served his friends,” Barr remarked. “It’s an immense tragedy that, living a life of service and following orders, he was fatally shot for simply opening the door.”

Chantimekki disclosed to NPR that her son’s death has had a profound impact on her family, particularly on how his nieces and nephews react to the presence of law enforcement.

“When my grandchildren see the police, they actually start vomiting,” she revealed. “I’ve taught them to respect the police due to the chaos and the fact that they become physically ill; it’s distressing.”

An investigation led by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is still ongoing, with the state attorney’s office set to determine any further actions.

NPR’s Emma Bowman contributed to this report.