A judge in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, denied bond on Tuesday for a fired deputy charged with manslaughter in the shooting death of a Black U.S. Air Force senior airman. The incident occurred on May 3 when the deputy, responding to a false domestic disturbance report, encountered the airman at his apartment door.
The former Okaloosa County deputy, Eddie Duran, 38, was charged with manslaughter with a firearm, a first-degree felony punishable by up to 30 years in prison. Despite objections from his lawyer, the judge ordered Duran to be held until a pre-trial detention hearing on Thursday.
The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office initially claimed that Duran fired in self-defense after encountering the airman holding a gun. However, an internal investigation later concluded that Duran's life was not in danger when he opened fire, leading to his termination on May 31.
Authorities revealed that the airman, Roger Fortson, was holding his handgun pointed down when he opened the door. Duran shot him multiple times before instructing him to drop the gun. Body camera footage and audio from a Facetime call with Fortson's girlfriend captured the encounter.
The incident sparked debate over Florida's 'Stand Your Ground' law and raised concerns about the use of lethal force by law enforcement officers. The shooting of Fortson, a young Black man, at his off-base apartment has drawn attention to the issue of police violence against Black individuals in their own homes.
Fortson's funeral, attended by hundreds of Air Force members and mourners, highlighted the impact of his tragic death on his community. The case has brought renewed focus on accountability and transparency in law enforcement actions, particularly in cases involving the use of deadly force.
