An ex-law enforcement officer from Florida was arrested this week for fatally shooting a senior airman earlier this year.
38-year-old Eddie Duran previously worked as a deputy for the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Department. He was charged with the first-degree felony of manslaughter with a firearm, according to Assistant State Attorney Greg Marcille. The legal official made the announcement on Friday August 23. Duran now faces up to 30 years in jail if convicted.
The suspect shot Roger Fortson, a 23-year-old senior member of the Air Force, on May 3. He reportedly fired multiple shots when Fortson opened his apartment door while holding a gun that he had pointed at the ground. Duran was arrested on Monday August 26. According to Marcille, Duran “turn[ed] himself in” and will remain in custody until he appears in court for the first time on Tuesday August 27.
In his initial court appearance, the judge denied releasing the suspect on bond and scheduled his pre-trial detention hearing for Thursday August 29. Rod Smith, Duran’s attorney, requested his client be released on bond on the grounds that “he’s no flight risk.” He appealed that Duran would make all his court appearances and did not need to “spend time in jail” this week.
An internal affairs report of the May incident revealed that Duran told them that Fortson opened the door and appeared aggressive. He said he fired against him because he thought he was “about to get shot” and “die.” Duran was terminated from the sheriff’s department on May 31 after the department determined he opened fire without valid concern for his life.
Experts in the law enforcement field have also shared their opinion that a police officer is not permitted to shoot based only on the fact that a potential suspect is wielding a firearm. He or she can only fire if there is a safety threat. Duran was at Fortson’s apartment complex to respond to a disturbance call.
However, the airman with no criminal record was not believed to have been involved in the incident which brought Duran to the scene. He was reportedly alone in his apartment, talking to his girlfriend through a video call when Duran knocked on his door and then fatally shot the airman.
