Florida jury acquits ex-deputy Eddie Duran of manslaughter in 2024 killing of airman Roger Fortson

Political Guyentist · October 4, 20261 min read

An Okaloosa County jury took about two hours to acquit after body-camera video showed Duran shooting Fortson, who answered his door holding a gun pointed at the ground after a false domestic-disturbance report.

Trial and what comes nextDuran faced up to 30 years on manslaughter with a firearm after a four-day trial (The Guardian).3 details

Duran faced up to 30 years on manslaughter with a firearm after a four-day trial (The Guardian).
Family lawyer Ben Crump says the family will pursue its federal civil rights suit.
Fortson's mother, Chantemekki Fortson: 'They went to deliberate for just two hours. So, again, I wasn't surprised.'

What we’re less sure of2 of 7 claims

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Body-camera video showed Fortson answering his door holding a gun pointed at the ground when Duran shot him.
The bodycam footage is well documented, but the story states the gun's orientation as settled fact, and it is contested. Defense expert Kevin Williams claimed the gun was 'angled toward Duran' (fox10tv/WALA), and the defense argued 'imminent threat' at trial (ABC News). The desk adopts one side with
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Fortson's mother, Chantemekki Fortson, said: 'They went to deliberate for just two hours. So, again, I wasn't surprised.'
The story attributes the quote to Chantemekki Fortson by name, but the source descriptions do not reproduce its wording. It likely comes from the NYT, Guardian or Reuters verdict coverage, but the exact text cannot be confirmed from the listed material.