Connect with us

Crime

Former sheriff’s deputy charged with killing airman Roger Fortson in Florida home

Published

on

FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. (AP) — A Florida sheriff’s deputy has been charged with murder with a firearm, a rare criminal prosecution against a Florida police officer, after a black U.S. Air Force private was killed when he opened the door to his apartment while holding a gun pointed at the bottom.

Former Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Deputy Eddie Duran, 38, has been charged with killing 23-year-old Roger Fortson in a May 3 shooting, said Assistant State’s Attorney Greg Marcille. The charge is a first-degree felony punishable by as much as 30 years in prison.

Marcille said an arrest warrant had been issued for Duran, but he was not in custody as of Friday afternoon.

Advertisement

“Let this be a reminder to law enforcement officers everywhere that they have taken a solemn oath to protect and defend, and their actions have consequences, especially when they result in the loss of life,” civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who represents the airman’s family, said Friday.

Sabu Williams, president of the local NAACP chapter, told The Associated Press: “I think that’s the best we could hope for in this particular case.”

In this photo released by the U.S. Air Force, PFC Roger Fortson is seen Dec. 24, 2019. (U.S. Air Force via AP, file)

Duran identified himself as Latino during voter registration, and charging documents released Friday also indicate that background.

Authorities say Duran was dispatched to Fortson’s Fort Walton Beach apartment in response to a domestic disturbance report that turned out to be false.

After knocking repeatedly, Fortson opened the door with the gun at his side, pointed down. Authorities say Duran shot him multiple times before telling Fortson to place the gun down.

Advertisement

On Friday, candles and framed photos of Fortson in uniform were placed on the door of the apartment where he was killed.

Okaloosa Sheriff Eric Aden fired Duran on May 31 after an internal investigation found his life was not in danger when he opened fire.

Duran’s attorney, John Whitaker, didn’t immediately reply to a phone call or email in search of comment.

It is very unusual for Florida law enforcement officers to be charged with murder in the road of duty — it had happened only 4 times in the 35 years before Friday. Even then, just one officer had been convicted.

Advertisement

Four Miami-Dade officers were recently charged with murder in connection with a shootout with two robbers who hijacked a UPS truck. The shooting killed the united statesdriver and a passerby, in addition to the abductors.

Three policemen in Okaloosa County, in the town of Crestview, are awaiting trial in the 2021 murder of a person who reportedly died after being shocked with a stun gun. The officers have pleaded not guilty.

Former Palm Beach Gardens officer is is serving a 25-year prison sentence of murder and attempted murder for a 2015 shooting. The officer was undercover and in plainclothes when he fatally shot a black man whose SUV had broken down on an interstate exit ramp. The man feared he was being robbed, pulled out a licensed handgun and tried to flee before he was shot.

The Broward sheriff’s deputy was accused of murder for the 2014 fatal shooting of a black man who was carrying a BB gun he had just purchased. A judge later dismissed that charge.

Advertisement

The U.S. Supreme Court has granted law enforcement officers “qualified immunity” for his or her actions while on duty, making it harder to charge and convict them of questionable shootings. The court says officers can only be convicted if the evidence shows their conduct was illegal they usually must have known they were violating “clearly established” law.

Candles and framed photos of Roger Fortson, a U.S. Air Force private who was fatally shot by a Florida sheriff’s deputy on May 3, 2024, stand Friday, Aug. 23, in the doorway of the apartment where he was killed in Fort Walton Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Kate Payne)

Duran began his law enforcement profession as a military police officer in the Army. He was hired by the Oklahoma Police Department in 2015 after being discharged from the military. He joined the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office in 2019, but resigned two years later, then rejoined the Sheriff’s Office in 2023.

Okaloosa’s personnel records show he was reprimanded in 2021 for failing to finish a task of confirming the addresses of three registered sex offenders by visiting their homes. Then assigned to a highschool as an on-campus substitute, he was also reprimanded for leaving school before the ultimate bell rang and students were released. Florida law requires an armed guard to be on campus during classes.

In an announcement Friday, the sheriff’s office said it stands by its decision to fireside Duran and has “been fully accountable and transparent” throughout the case.

The apartment complex where Fortson lived is about eight miles from Hurlburt Field, where Fortson was assigned to the 4th Special Operations Squadron as a special mission pilot aboard an AC-130J Ghostrider attack helicopter.

Advertisement

Duran went to the apartment complex on May 3 after receiving a domestic disturbance call. Duran met with the apartment manager, who directed him to Fortson’s fourth-floor apartment, telling him there have been frequent arguments, in keeping with the deputy’s body camera footage.

But Fortson, who has no criminal history, lived alone and had no visitors that afternoon. He was on a video call with his girlfriend, who told investigators they weren’t arguing. She said Fortson was playing a video game.

Featured Stories

Additionally, 911 records show officers had never been called to Fortson’s apartment before, but they’d been called to a close-by apartment 10 times in the past eight months, including once in reference to a domestic disturbance.

When Duran arrived at Fortson’s door, he stood silently for 20 seconds and listened, however the camera mounted on his body didn’t record any voices contained in the constructing.

Advertisement

He then began banging on the door but didn’t discover himself. He then walked to the side of the door, about 5 feet (1.5 meters). He told investigators he feared the person inside could shoot through the door or open it and push him over the railing to the bottom about 40 feet (12 meters) below.

He waited 15 seconds before banging on the door again. This time he shouted, “Sheriff’s office — open the door!” He stepped aside again. In the recording, a muffled voice might be heard — Duran said he heard someone cursing on the police.

Less than 10 seconds later, Duran returned to the door and knocked again, once more signaling that he was on the door.

Fortson’s girlfriend told investigators that the airman asked who was there but got no answer. She said Fortson told her he would not open the door because nobody involves his apartment. She said neither of them heard the deputy yell that he was from the sheriff’s office.

Advertisement

After the third knock, Fortson told her, “I’m going to get the gun because I don’t know who he is.”

When Fortson opened the door holding the gun, Duran said, “Stand back,” and two seconds later he began shooting. Fortson fell to the ground.

Only then did the deputy shout, “Drop your weapon!”

Fortson replied, “It’s over there.”

Advertisement

A sheriff’s deputy called an ambulance, but Fortson died on the hospital shortly thereafter.

This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
Advertisement

Crime

Rapper Tay-K sentenced 80 years behind bars for the murder of a photographer in 2017

Published

on

By

Rapper Tay-K, born Taymor McIntyre, was sentenced to 80 years behind bars for connecting the photographer’s murder in 2017.

On Monday, McIntyre-which also leads through Tay-K 47-Set a guilty murder of Marek Anthony Sldivar in 2017 News 4 San Antonio Reported. On Tuesday, the jury in Bexar in Texas issued a sentence after hours of testimony.

“I realize that although it is a lot of time, you are still alive. You can still improve”, the Judge of the District Court in 187., Stephanie Boyd, said to Tay-K, based on Kens 5. “But the applicant in this case is deceased and you must internalize that the applicant is dead in this case. You will have to make changes.”

Advertisement

The verdict appears after almost a decade of the legal saga of battles for the rapper from two separate murders. According to prosecutors, the 24-year-old, who was 16 years old at the time, fatally shot Sldivar in 2017 after the theft of photography equipment.

Viral rapper from Texas Tay-K convicted of murder in 2016 assault

Tay-K initially checked out the accusation of the capital murder, which the judge lowered himself to the murder after the meeting on Monday. Rapper lawyers criticized the police investigation in 2017, arguing that the case was largely based on “selfish” accounts of witnesses from individuals who were in the automobile while shooting.

“Taymor McIntyre is not guilty of a capital murder, murder or inadvertently causing death, and the reason is very simple,” said Tay-K lawyer John Hunter, told the jurors during closing arguments last week. “You have to do it well. You must do the work. And this matter clearly shows that the work has not been done.”

In 2019, Tay-K was also sentenced to 55 years for the murder of Ethan Walker in 2016 during the home invasion in Texas. He became a viral fame for the hit song “The Race”, which was recorded when the teenager was running around the shooting.

Tay-K is currently detained in the Department of Criminal Justice in Texas, where it’ll remain.

Advertisement
Rapper Tay-K convicted of murder for the second time in Texas

(Tagstotranslate) crime

This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
Continue Reading

Crime

17-year-old accused in Texas

Published

on

By

Caramelo Anthony, a 17-year-old who was accused of a deadly stab on the Torah in Texas, was released on Bond.

On Monday afternoon, Anthony was released from $ 250,000 bonds after his lawyer successfully ran a campaign to cut back it from the unique $ 1 million throughout the interrogation in the bond, ABC News Partner Plate Reported.

Talking to reporters after the hearing, his defender, Mike Howard, said that the brand new bond was “honest”, despite his desire to lower it to $ 150,000.

Advertisement

“Bond, as the judge said, should not be an instrument of oppression, should not keep people in prison, he should not punish,” Howard said, adding this “large and significant” amount, “I think that the judge rightly imposed reasonable conditions that will ensure both Karmelo and Anthony, but also the security of the community.”

As a part of his release, per Fox 4Anthony will probably be limited to home custody on the Parents’ House by Kostki. The teenager may even need to search for a permit before leaving the home, namely for trips related to the case, and he is not going to have the opportunity to depart without an adult accompanying him. He was excluded from using social media and can’t contact the victim’s family. If he violates any of his conditions, he risk returning to prison.

His release from the Collin Function prison appears 13 days after arrest for the murder of Austin Metcalf on April 2 during a gathering on the track, which was combined by the competing boys’ teams. It is claimed that in rainy delay Anthony stabbed Metcalf, also 17, during a tense meeting between them. Anthony, who confessed to stab, still argued that he was lively in self -defense. He was accused of first -degree murder in reference to the incident.

Family of Texas Teen, accused of a deadly stab of another teenager on the track, collected over $ 150,000 via the online fundraiser

The judge considered several aspects, including Anthony’s age, lack of criminal history and his connections with the community, which were visible in the courtroom throughout the trial. The Dallas Morning News He informed that Anthony’s father testified in court on behalf of the character of his son, noting that he was the captain of the team of each football and track teams in highschool, and that he has two jobs. Several people appeared to support Anthony, including a football coach and a manager from one in all his two works.

The side of the Court Metcalf, which Dallas Morning News noticed, was also full, embraced his mother, father and a number of other relations. When the judge issued her rule, Metcalf’s mother hung her head and cried. Anthony, who participated in the hearing in a yellow overalls and handcuffs, didn’t react in a dignified way.

Advertisement

The judge also considered the quantity. Although the fundraiser for Anthony collected almost $ 500,000, Anthony’s father said that his family had not received these funds yet. Failing in the case meant that the family tried to maneuver, which also charges their funds.

After interrogation, the District Prosecutor of Collin, Greg Willis, told journalists the priority of his office, including subsequent steps, including the review of the Police Investigation in Frisco and presenting the case of the Great Jury in order to find out whether Anthony will probably be accused and the trial.

“We are afraid that as prosecutors it is justice, truth and responsibility, so we will go where the facts lead us,” said Willis.

Rapper Tay-K convicted of murder for the second time in Texas

(Tagstransate) crime

Advertisement
This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
Continue Reading

Crime

Family of Texas Teen, accused of a deadly stab of another teenager on the track, collected over $ 150,000 via the online fundraiser

Published

on

By

The collection of money for a teenager accused of a deadly stabbing of another teenager during a meeting at the Texas track last week has almost USD 200,000.

Launched by the family of Carmelo Anthony, a 17-year-old from Texas, who’s accused of stabbing Austin Metcalf, also 17, during an intensive meeting between them, Dajndo Fundraiser reached USD 160,000 from Monday morning.

According to Anthony’s lawyer, Deric Walpole, his client demands self -defense on this matter. Talking with NBC Dallas-Fort Worth On Friday, other than the prison, wherein Anthony was detained, Walpole said: “I know that my client said it was a self -defense. I have no reason not to believe it, but I have to develop facts, talk to people and find out what is happening before I made some statements about what I think.”

Advertisement

He added: “I have no reason to think that it was not a self -defense at the moment.”

On Wednesday, April 2, around 10 am local time, it’s claimed that Anthony stabbed Metcalf after Metcalf asked to depart a specific area during the rain delay at a sports event at the Kuykeyndall stadium in Frisco, in accordance with the NBC Dalls-Fort value. Anthony, a competitor in a competitive team, apparently sat under the tent of the Metcalf team to avoid rainfall when Metcalf asked him to depart. When Anthony didn’t follow Metcalf in order that he wouldn’t touch him, allegedly Metcalf caught Anthony’s arm, leaning Anthony, using a knife from a backpack to stab Metcalf in his chest from escaping.

Metcalf suffered a stinging wound in his heart and was recognized as deceased at the scene of the incident, despite the attempts to save lots of his twin brother.

“I put my hand on (his chest), tried to stop (bleeding), grabbed his head and looked into his eyes. I just saw his soul. And this also took my soul,” said Twin Hunter Metcalfa Fox News.

Advertisement
Harriet Tubman removed from the National Park Service website to

Anthony was arrested and accused of killing the first degree, and is currently being detained in the Collin County prison for a bond of USD 1,000,000, which his lawyer is trying to cut back. He hopes to interrogate bonds this week.

Teenager Apparently he said the police“It is not alleged, I did it” that he was lively in self -defense and asked if Metcalf can be tremendous. Anthony’s father said The New York Post That his son was “provoked”.

“He was not an aggressor. He was not the one who started him,” said Andrew Anthony, adding: “Everyone has already adopted their assumptions about my son, but he is not what they make him.”

He explained that his son was a “good child” who works two works and maintains 3.7 GPs.

“I feel sorry for other parents and family, and words cannot explain how both (families) affected this tragedy,” he noted.

Advertisement

The online collection of money causes “false” narratives circulating after the consequence.

“The widespread narrative is false, unfair and harmful. As a family of faith, we are deeply grateful for all your support in this difficult period. Your prayers and help mean more for us than ever,” we read a fundraiser.

Collecting money on Gofundme In the case of family costs and Metcalf’s funeral, they brought 95% of their goal.

NY Public Schools inform Trump's administration that they will not comply with the DEI order

(Tagstransate) news

Advertisement
This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
Continue Reading
Advertisement

OUR NEWSLETTER

Subscribe Us To Receive Our Latest News Directly In Your Inbox!

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

Trending