Federal Lawsuit Filed Over Airman’s Death in Florida
A pivotal legal battle has emerged following the tragic shooting of a young airman in Florida. The mother of Senior Airman Roger Fortson, who was fatally shot by a sheriff’s deputy, has launched a federal civil rights lawsuit, citing excessive force and constitutional violations.
Roger Fortson, a 23-year-old serving with the Air Force Special Operations at Hurlburt Field, was killed on May 3, 2024. Okaloosa County Deputy Eddie Duran responded to a disturbance call at Fortson’s apartment and shot him six times when Fortson answered the door holding a firearm legally positioned downward.
The lawsuit alleges: “Mr. Fortson, who was lawfully in possession of a legally owned firearm and posed no threat, was killed as a result of a cascade of negligent, reckless and unconstitutional actions by both law enforcement and the apartment complex where he resided.”
Named defendants include Okaloosa County Sheriff Eric Aden, Deputy Duran, Fortson’s apartment complex, and an unidentified leasing agent who reported the disturbance. The legal action was filed in the Northern District of Florida.
Chantimekki “Meka” Fortson, the airman’s mother, emphasized the need for accountability in a recent interview. “From the time Roger started walking, he started taking accountability for his actions,” she said, recalling her son’s plea for help after the shooting. “If Roger can take accountability on his dying bed, this country should take accountability now.”
Duran, an Army veteran, was dismissed from the Sheriff’s Office after an investigation deemed his use of force unreasonable. He faces manslaughter charges but has pleaded not guilty. His defense lawyer declined to comment.
The lawsuit also scrutinizes Duran’s training, arguing that his actions were not isolated. It claims: “Deputy Duran’s use of deadly force — within seconds of the door being opened — was not an isolated incident or the result of a rogue actor. It was a foreseeable consequence of the sheriff’s inadequate and unconstitutional training practices, which failed to equip deputies with the skills and restraint necessary to assess and safely respond to ambiguous or non-threatening encounters, including non-combative encounters in civilian homes.”
Military.com previously questioned the incident’s circumstances, supported by Fortson’s mother and attorney Ben Crump, who stated that Fortson was alone on a video call with no disturbances.
Evidence obtained by Military.com, including 911 calls and police records, highlighted confusion and misinformation leading to the deputy’s arrival at Fortson’s apartment.
The lawsuit further criticizes the apartment complex and police, with Crump declaring, “This was not a tragic mistake. This was a predictable and preventable outcome of broken policing, rooted in poor training, reckless escalation and zero accountability.”
Natalie Jackson, part of Crump’s legal team, noted the lawsuit follows a year of evidence collection. Air Force Special Operations Command leaders have also responded, halting training, attending Fortson’s funeral, and holding community discussions.
Meka Fortson expressed gratitude for the support from military personnel, urging: “Let our kids be here to take care of us in our old age. We shouldn’t be burying our kids.”
