Roger Fortson Family Says Federal Civil-Rights Case Will Continue After Deputy Acquittal
October 3, 2026
After a Florida jury acquitted former Okaloosa County sheriff’s deputy Eddie Duran of manslaughter in the 2024 shooting death of U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Roger Fortson, Fortson’s family and attorney Ben Crump said they will continue pursuing a separate federal civil-rights lawsuit.
Body-camera video showed Fortson opening his apartment door while holding a handgun pointed toward the floor. Duran’s defense argued that he acted according to his training, while the sheriff’s office had previously fired him after concluding that the use of deadly force was unreasonable.
Legal status: The criminal acquittal means prosecutors did not prove manslaughter beyond a reasonable doubt. It does not resolve the family’s separate civil-rights claims. Claims that race influenced the shooting or verdict remain allegations unless established through evidence in the civil case.