Former Okaloosa Deputy Acquitted in Fatal 2024 Shooting of Air Force Airman

A jury has found former Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office deputy Eddie Duran not guilty of manslaughter in the May 2024 shooting death of Air Force Airman Roger Fortson, according to WKRG News 5.

The case drew significant attention across North Florida and the broader Gulf Coast region, as it involved a deputy-involved shooting that resulted in a fatality. The jury's verdict concludes the manslaughter charge against Duran following the incident at Fortson's Fort Walton Beach home.

Details surrounding the circumstances of the shooting and the jury's reasoning behind the acquittal were not immediately available. The case had been closely watched by law enforcement observers and community members concerned with use-of-force policies.