FL Sheriff, Deputy Sued For Wrongful Death In Airman's Shooting

OKALOOSA COUNTY, FL — The mother of a slain airman from Georgia who was fatally shot by a Florida deputy responding to a disturbance call is suing authorities in a wrongful death lawsuit.

Civil rights Attorney Ben Crump on Tuesday filed the federal lawsuit on behalf of Chantimekki “Meka” Fortson, mom of 23-year-old U.S. Air Force Airman Roger Fortson.

Patch has obtained a copy of the 16-page lawsuit, which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida.

It shows she is suing Okaloosa County Sheriff Eric Aden, Okaloosa County Deputy Eddie Duran, the Elan Apartments (where Roger Fortson lived) and a leasing agent identified as Jane Doe.

Claims in the lawsuit are on the basis of excessive force, municipal liability, wrongful death and negligence, Crump's office said Tuesday.

An Okaloosa deputy was responding to a disturbance call at the time of Roger Fortson's May 3, 2024 death, but a girlfriend who was on FaceTime with him said the late airman was alone in his home, Crump's office said at the time.

Roger Fortson asked who was at his door after hearing a knock but did not receive a response, Crump's office said. A more aggressive knock came after a few minutes, and when Roger Fortson did not see anyone out of the peephole, he retrieved a gun, Crump's office said.

" ... as he was walking back to the living room, police burst through the door. When they saw the gun, they shot Roger six times. The witness has said that she saw Roger on the ground stating, 'I can’t breathe,' after he was shot," Crump's office said, adding the deputy entered the wrong apartment.

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The deputy was identified as Deputy Eddie Duran, who Okaloosa County Sheriff Eric Aden fired after an internal affairs investigation determined his use of force was not reasonable.

Records from the Okaloosa Department of Corrections on Tuesday showed Duran was arrested on Aug. 26, 2024 on a singular charge of homicide-negligent manslaughter-killing human other than by murder or homicide with a firearm. He was released three days later and is awaiting a court hearing, records showed.

On Tuesday, Crump's office said a leasing agent was the person to contact law enforcement "based on "unverified and second-hand claims."

Duran was accused of not properly identifying himself and obscuring himself so he was not seen through the peep hole as he banged on the door.

Roger Fortson did not raise his gun during the brief incident, according to Crump's office, citing body camera footage and an internal affairs report.

“Roger Fortson was a proud service member, a loving son and a young man with his whole life ahead of him," Crump said in a news release. "He deserved to feel safe in his own home. Instead, he was killed where he should have been safest, based on hearsay and bias. This lawsuit is about justice for Roger and accountability for those responsible for his needless death.”

Three days later, Roger Fortson's brother, 16-year-old Andre Fortson, was fatally shot at a Bouldercrest Road building in East Atlanta, Georgia.

Neighbors told WSB-TV that Andre Fortson was believed to be an innocent bystander.

Patch is working to get comment from the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office.