Jury acquits fired Florida sheriff's deputy in killing of Black U.S. Airforce Airman Roger Fortson

An Okaloosa County jury has acquitted former Florida sheriff's deputy Eddie Duran, 38, of manslaughter with a firearm in the fatal shooting of U.S. Air Force Airman Roger Fortson. The incident occurred when the deputy responded to a domestic disturbance call at Fortson's apartment, resulting in the Black airman being shot and killed by the then-deputy.

The verdict concludes the legal proceedings against Duran, who was fired following the killing. The case drew significant attention regarding law enforcement use of force against Black service members in their homes during routine calls for service.

Following the verdict, representatives for Fortson's family expressed the profound difficulty of the outcome, noting that the family has lived with their loss every day for more than two years since the fatal shooting.