Nearly two years after her son was shot and killed in his Fort Walton Beach apartment, Chantemekki Fortson returned to the Okaloosa County courthouse on Tuesday to express frustration with what she says has been a slow-moving process.
She told reporters, alongside civil-rights attorney Ben Crump, that she wants answers about her son’s death. The family is pursuing both a criminal case against the former deputy who fired the shots and a federal civil lawsuit, while hearing dates in the court system continue to change.
Senior Airman Roger Fortson, 23, was killed on May 3, 2024, after an Okaloosa County deputy knocked on his apartment door and opened fire shortly after Fortson answered, according to reports. AP News reported that the deputy, Eddie Duran, was later fired and charged with manslaughter with a firearm, a first-degree felony that carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison. The shooting, recorded on the deputy’s body-worn camera, is central to a federal civil complaint filed by Fortson’s family.
Body-Cam Footage: The Minutes That Changed Everything
Body-camera footage shows a deputy knocking on Fortson’s door and then stepping out of the direct line of the peephole before Fortson opens the door. Fortson is seen holding a handgun pointed toward the floor when the deputy fires almost immediately. The Washington Post and other outlets that reviewed the video reported that Fortson does not appear to make any hostile or attacking movements before he is shot multiple times.
Portions of a FaceTime call Fortson was on during the encounter have been referenced by the family’s attorneys, who say the audio highlights how quickly the situation escalated from a knock on the door to gunfire.
Sheriff’s Internal Probe And Agency Findings
An internal administrative investigation determined that Duran’s use of deadly force was not considered reasonable, and the agency subsequently terminated him. The report states that dispatch records listed the disturbance at 319 Racetrack Road NW, Unit 1401, and that the deputy knocked three times and announced himself twice before the shooting.
Sheriff Eric Aden said the deputy’s termination was based on the internal investigation, while the Florida Department of Law Enforcement continues a separate criminal investigation.
Charges, Bail And The Criminal Case
State prosecutors charged Duran with manslaughter with a firearm in August 2024, and a warrant was issued before he later turned himself in. Court records and reports indicate he was released after posting a $100,000 bond.
Duran’s defense team has raised procedural arguments as pretrial motions proceed, while Fortson’s family continues to pursue its federal civil case alongside the criminal proceedings.
Court Calendar Turbulence And Demands For Transparency
The criminal case has faced some delays. A pretrial hearing initially scheduled for February was postponed to March 9 after the judge recused herself, according to local reports. Fortson’s mother has been traveling for court dates and coordinating supporters to follow the proceedings.
Crump said Fortson’s mother is deeply hurt and concerned that the passage of time has caused her son’s name and life to fade from public attention.
Local Outcry And What’s At Stake
Hundreds of Fortson’s fellow airmen attended his funeral in dress blues, an event local civil-rights and veterans groups say highlights the need for accountability in court. The Washington Post and local outlets have reported on the public response, including statements from the Okaloosa NAACP noting that while the deputy’s firing was necessary, it does not conclude the matter of accountability. The family’s lawsuit claims that shortcomings in training and supervision at the sheriff’s office contributed to the circumstances leading to the deadly encounter at Fortson’s apartment.
For Chantemekki Fortson, the next steps involve staying engaged in the legal process. She plans to attend as many hearings as possible while attorneys on both sides continue preparing motions and filings. With upcoming pretrial dates and a federal civil case underway, the Fortson family’s pursuit of answers and transparency is expected to remain part of ongoing court proceedings and local reporting for the foreseeable future.
