Atlanta airman Roger Fortson's mother responds to deputy's firing in son's death
Roger Fortson's family wants criminal charges for Florida deputy who killed him
The Florida deputy who shot and killed Senior Airmen Roger Fortson has been fired. Now, Fortson's family spoke for the first time since the deputy's firing, saying it's not enough. They want to see the deputy criminally charged.
ATLANTA - The family of the Atlanta airman killed by law enforcement in Florida are demanding "complete transparency" and charges after the deputy who shot him was fired.
Senior Airman Roger Fortson was fatally shot by Okaloosa County Deputy Eddie Duran on May 3, who was responding to a domestic violence call and being directed to Fortson’s apartment.
"If Roger was somebody else, we wouldn't be here," said Mika Fortson, Roger's mom.
During Monday's news conference, Mika spoke directly to former Deputy Duran.
"You're not going to throw me a bone, take his credentials, take his pension," Mika said.
Duran shot Fortson, 23, multiple times two seconds after he opened his door. Fortson was holding his legally owned gun in his right hand, body camera video shows. It was pointed directly at the ground. Fortson was Black. Duran, 39, listed himself as Hispanic on his voter registration.
A sheriff’s internal affairs investigation released Friday concluded that "Mr. Fortson did not make any hostile, attacking movements, and therefore, the former deputy’s use of deadly force was not objectively reasonable." Outside law enforcement experts have also said that an officer cannot shoot only because a possible suspect is holding a gun if there is no threat.
"There was nothing he did to cause this police officer to be justified in shooting and executing him," said Ben Crump, Fortson's attorney. "This wasn't mere negligence, this was criminal."
Last week, the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office announced that Duran had been terminated.
Hundreds of friends, family and teammates gather for Senior Airman Roger Fortson’s funeral service at Hurlburt Field, Florida. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Alex Stephens)
"This tragic incident should never have occurred," Okaloosa County Sheriff Eric Aden said in the statement. "The objective facts do not support the use of deadly force as an appropriate response to Mr. Fortson’s actions. Mr. Fortson did not commit any crime. By all accounts, he was an exceptional airman and individual."
FOX 5 has reached out to Duran's attorney.
No criminal charges have been filed, but a Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigation is ongoing.
Details around Robert Fortson's death at his Florida home
Airman killed by Florida deputy laid to rest
The U.S. Air Force service member who was shot and killed by a Florida sheriff's deputy earlier this month was laid to rest Friday. the funeral for Senior Airman Roger Fortson happened at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Stonecrest before a long procession on I-20 to his final resting place at Lincoln Memorial Cemetary in northwest Atlanta.
Fortson, an Atlanta native, enlisted in the military after graduating from high school with honors. He had no criminal record, according to Crump's office. He was recognized as a stellar member of the Air Force and was well-loved by his community.
On the day he was killed, Fortson opened the door while holding a handgun pointed toward the floor, according to Duran's body camera footage. Duran shouted, "Step back!" and then shot Fortson six times. Only afterward did he shout, "Drop the gun! Drop the gun!" The deputy then called paramedics on his radio.
Fortson’s family and Crump argue that the shooting was completely unjustified and that Duran had gone to the wrong apartment while responding to a call about a possible domestic disturbance in progress at the apartment complex. Fortson was home alone and talking to his girlfriend on FaceTime when he grabbed his gun because he heard someone outside his unit, Crump has said.
Weeks after the shooting, the sheriff has yet to release an incident report, any 911 records or the officer’s identity, despite requests for information under Florida’s open records act.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.