In a tragic incident that shook the Florida Panhandle community, a former Okaloosa County sheriff's deputy, Eddie Duran, has been charged with manslaughter with a firearm in connection with the death of Senior Airman Roger Fortson. The charge, a first-degree felony carrying a potential sentence of up to 30 years in prison, was announced on Thursday by Assistant State Attorney Greg Marcille.

The shooting occurred on May 3 at Fortson's apartment in Fort Walton Beach, where Deputy Duran had been dispatched in response to a domestic disturbance report that later turned out to be false. Body camera footage revealed the sequence of events leading up to the untimely death of the 23-year-old airman.

Approaching the apartment door, Duran initially knocked without announcing himself. Roughly 30 seconds later, he knocked again, this time identifying himself as a law enforcement officer. As Fortson opened the door while holding a handgun, pointed down, the deputy shouted at him to step back. Shockingly, moments after the door was opened, Duran fired multiple shots at Fortson, who immediately fell to the ground.

The video evidence appears to show that only after shooting Fortson did Duran command him to drop the weapon. The tragic incident occurred while Fortson's girlfriend watched in horror over a FaceTime call, capturing the heartbreaking moment when he groaned, "I can't breathe," while lying on the floor.

Following the recent charges against Duran, Fortson's family, represented by attorney Ben Crump, released a statement expressing some relief and calling it a "first step towards justice." They emphasized that law enforcement officials must be mindful of the consequences their actions can have, particularly when they result in the loss of a precious life.

It is worth noting that this tragedy further compounded the Fortson family's grief as less than three months later, Senior Airman Fortson's 16-year-old brother lost his life in an unrelated shooting in Atlanta, Georgia. The family has been faced with an incomprehensible amount of grief and loss in a short span of time.

As the legal proceedings against Deputy Duran begin to unfold, the community remains saddened and shocked by this unfortunate incident. The quest for justice continues, and the outcome of this case will be closely monitored, ensuring accountability and calling attention to the seriousness of law enforcement actions that result in tragic outcomes.