Crime & Public Safety
Jury Acquits Former Okaloosa County Deputy in Death of Airman
A jury in Okaloosa County found former Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Deputy Eddie Duran not guilty of manslaughter with a firearm in the death of United States Air Force Senior Airman Roger Fortson. The verdict was announced on Oct. 1, 2026, and resulted in an acquittal on the charged criminal count.
The State Attorney’s Office said prosecutors brought the case after a thorough review and presented evidence to a jury. State Attorney Ginger Bowden Madden issued a statement saying the office respects the jury’s verdict and thanked jurors for their service. The office noted that a not-guilty verdict reflects the State did not prove the charge beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of every juror.
The State Attorney’s statement emphasized the loss to Fortson’s family and the Air Force community, noting Fortson was 23 and served with the 4th Special Operations Squadron at Hurlburt Field. The statement acknowledged that the verdict will cause pain and urged those responding to do so peacefully and with respect for the family’s dignity. The office reiterated that presenting disputed evidence to a jury is part of independent review and accountability.
With the jury’s decision accepted by the State Attorney’s Office, no criminal conviction resulted from the prosecution. The statement thanked witnesses, investigators, court personnel, and attorneys who participated in the proceedings and asked the public and media to respect the Fortson family’s privacy.
All individuals accused of a crime are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
More Okaloosa County news · Request a correction or case update
All individuals mentioned in criminal allegations are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.