Lawsuit planned over Florida deputy's shooting of US airman who was
killed in his own home
[May 06, 2025]
FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Prominent civil rights attorney Ben Crump
says he will file a lawsuit against a former Florida sheriff's deputy
and others for the May 2024 shooting death of 23-year-old U.S. Senior
Airman Roger Fortson.
Former Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Deputy Eddie Duran shot and killed
Fortson, who was Black, at the door of Fortson's apartment. Duran has
pleaded not guilty to manslaughter. That criminal case is pending.
Crump plans a news conference Tuesday afternoon with Fortson family
members in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, to discuss the lawsuit.
What is the lawsuit about?
Crump says his lawsuit will contend that Duran used “excessive and
unconstitutional deadly force” in the shooting. It will also outline
what it calls failures of training and supervision at the sheriff's
office and claim the apartment complex where Fortson was shot provided
“misleading, unverified information” that led to the violent response.
How did the shooting unfold?
Authorities say Duran had been directed to Fortson’s Fort Walton Beach
apartment in response to a domestic disturbance report that turned out
to be false. After repeated knocking, Fortson opened the door while
holding his handgun at his side, pointed down. Authorities say Duran
shot him multiple times before telling Fortson to drop the gun.
Who is Eddie Duran?
Duran, 39, began his law enforcement career as a military police officer
in the Army. An Oklahoma police department hired him in 2015 after his
military discharge. He joined the Okaloosa County sheriff’s office in
2019, resigned two years later and then rejoined the sheriff’s office in
2023.
Okaloosa Sheriff Eric Aden fired Duran after Fortson's death because an
internal investigation concluded Duran's life was not in danger when he
opened fire.
Duran identifies as Hispanic, according to his voter registration.
[to top of second column]
|
Chantemekki Fortson, mother of Roger Fortson, holds a photo of her
son during a news conference, May 9, 2024, in Fort Walton Beach,
Fla. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)
Who was Roger Fortson?
Fortson grew up in Atlanta and joined the Air Force in 2019, the
year he graduated from high school.
The apartment complex where Fortson lived is about 8 miles (13
kilometers) from Hurlburt Field. He was assigned to the 4th Special
Operations Squadron as a special missions aviator, where one of his
roles was to load a gunship’s 30 mm and 105 mm weapons.
His death was one of a growing list of killings of Black people by
law enforcement in their own homes. It also renewed debate over
Florida’s “stand your ground” law.
What is the status of the criminal case against Duran?
The case is in the pretrial hearing phase, with a hearing on motions
set for May 20. Duran is out of jail on bond.
Who is Ben Crump?
Crump, 55, is a well-known Black attorney based in Tallahassee,
Florida, who has worked on numerous high-profile civil right cases
and wrongful death lawsuits. His cases have included those involving
other Black people who have been killed by law enforcement,
including Breonna Taylor, George Floyd and Michael Brown.
All contents © copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved |
