Family of US airman from Atlanta killed by Florida deputy filing federal lawsuit

The Brief

  • The family of Roger Fortson is filing a federal civil rights lawsuit, claiming he posed no threat when shot by Deputy Eddie Duran.
  • The lawsuit accuses the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office of inadequate training and supervision of deputies, and alleges misleading information from apartment staff led to the shooting.
  • Family attorney Ben Crump emphasized the need for accountability, with a press conference scheduled to discuss the case.

FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. The family of a 23-year-old U.S. Airman fatally shot by a Florida deputy in the doorway of his apartment plans to announce a federal civil rights lawsuit over his death on Tuesday.

It’s been more than a year since Roger Fortson was killed by a deputy in Okaloosa County who was responding to a disturbance in progress call at his apartment complex that turned out to be false.

The announcement is expected to officially be made by family attorney Ben Crump around 2:15 p.m. Tuesday during a press conference.

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