Fort Walton BeachA jury acquitted ex-deputy Eddie Duran of manslaughter in Roger Fortson’s death.
Fortson, 23, legally owned the handgun he held pointed at the floor.
Duran fired immediately when the door opened, and only afterwards ordered Fortson to drop the gun.
The sheriff’s office fired Duran in 2024, finding his use of force was not objectively reasonable.
Fortson’s family, which backed the prosecution, has not yet responded to the verdict.
How each outlet framed it
- The New York Times
- reconstructs false domestic disturbance report prompting response, analyzes body camera knock sequence
Sources: The New York Times