SrA Fortson Could've Been My Airman
His Family Deserved Better
More than a year ago, a sheriff’s deputy shot and killed Roger Fortson in his own home. Last week, Fortson’s family sued the deputy, the sheriff, and the owner of the apartment complex Fortson lived in.
Fortson’s mother, Meka Fortson, said, “I want accountability because he was 23. I want accountability because he had a life ahead of him. I want accountability because he was in his own home.”
Fortson was a black man living in the Florida Panhandle. It’s hard to say that has nothing to do with his death. Eddie Duran, the sheriff’s deputy, is Hispanic.
But there are so many more layers of tragedy in this case.
Roger Fortson was an active-duty air commando based at Hurlburt Field, just west of Fort Walton Beach. I was still on active duty when he was killed. Although I never had the honor of serving alongside SrA Fortson, I did serve under the protection of air commandos like him. When I saw that he was an airman, serving a few hours from me, all I could think was, “That could’ve been my Airman.”
Fortson was an AC-130 aerial gunner for the legendary 1st Special Operations Wing. I often served as an enabler for Army special forces, and whenever we knew we had a “Spooky” overhead, we all felt safer and more protected.
According to the Okaloosa County prosecutor and the Fortson family’s lawyer, Fortson was on the phone with his girlfriend when Duran knocked at the door and announced himself as police. Duran was responding to a domestic disturbance call. He found the wrong door.
Fortson answered the door with a handgun in one hand, muzzle pointed at the ground. This is exactly what we’re trained to do—pointing a gun at the ground keeps the gun in the ready position. I often do the same when an unexpected visitor knocks on my door.
Here’s how PBS summarized what happened next: “The deputy said, ‘Step back,’ then immediately began firing. Fortson fell backward onto the floor. Only then did the deputy yell, ‘Drop the gun!’”
When I read these details, all I could think was, “There but for the grace of G*d go I.”
When I learned that Eddie Duran is an Iraq combat veteran, I wept. Despite previous disciplinary incidents, the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Department rehired him. His honorable service in the Army probably helped with his application, but maybe not with his aptitude for civilian policing. Duran began his Army career in intelligence, like I did, before transitioning to military police. He deployed to Iraq in 2008 and received training in the Army’s Special Reaction Team course.
Not every servicemember should be a police officer.
Law enforcement is a popular career path for many veterans. I considered it briefly. I knew I could handle the stress. I also knew that my combat experience would not translate, especially since I suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, like many Iraq and Afghan combat veterans. When I saw the footage from Duran’s body cam, all I could think was, “That’s how I would likely have responded if I had been him.”
Duran pleaded not guilty to manslaughter charges, but Meka Fortson says she has “no faith” he’ll get a “real trial” in Okaloosa County.
The country Roger Fortson did so much to defend is the same one that allows him to be randomly shot just for opening his door to the police. The country that sent Eddie Duran to war in Iraq also wants him to carry a gun and interact with civilians in stressful situations.
I hope the Fortsons win their suit. They can never be made whole, but at least it will be an official acknowledgment that their accomplished, remarkable son meant something.
So much tragedy in this situation. I am sorry for all of the people and families involved.
Reading this story not only brings tears to my eyes, I feel real physical pain for everyone involved… such a tragedy pains my heart.