FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. (AP) 鈥� A judge allowed bond Thursday for a Florida sheriff's deputy who was fired and charged with manslaughter after shooting a at the Black man's apartment door.
Former Okaloosa County deputy Eddie Duran, 38, faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted of manslaughter with a firearm, a rare charge against a Florida law enforcement officer. Duran's body camera recorded him shooting 23-year-old Roger Fortson on May 3 immediately after Fortson opened the door while holding a handgun pointed at the floor.
Thursday鈥檚 hearing was before Judge Terrance R. Ketchel, who has been named the trial judge for Duran鈥檚 case.
Thursday's pretrial detention hearing despite arguments Tuesday from his lawyer, who said there's no reason to jail him.
鈥淭hey know he鈥檚 going to show up,鈥� attorney Rod Smith said Tuesday. 鈥淲e believe that he鈥檚 no risk, no flight risk.鈥�
The Okaloosa County Sheriff鈥檚 Office initially said Duran fired in self-defense after encountering a man with a gun, but Sheriff Eric Aden after an internal investigation concluded his life was not in danger when he opened fire. have also said that an officer cannot shoot only because a possible suspect is holding a gun if there is no threat.
Duran was responding to a report of a physical fight inside an apartment at the Fort Walton Beach complex. as the location, according to sheriff's investigators. At the time, Fortson was alone in his apartment, talking with his girlfriend in a FaceTime video call that recorded audio of the encounter. showed what happened next.
After repeated knocking, Fortson opened the door. Authorities say that Duran shot him multiple times and only then did he tell Fortson to drop the gun.
Duran told investigators that he saw aggression in Fortson's eyes and fired because, 鈥淚鈥檓 standing there thinking I鈥檓 about to get shot, I鈥檓 about to die.鈥�
The from Georgia was one of a growing list of killings of Black people by law enforcement in their own homes, and it also over Florida鈥檚 鈥淪tand Your Ground鈥� law. Hundreds of Air Force members in dress blues joined , friends and others .
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Martin reported from Atlanta.
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Kate Payne is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
Kate Payne, The Associated Press
