A former Florida sheriff’s deputy has been arrested and charged with manslaughter in the shooting death of a Black U.S. Air Force senior airman. The incident occurred on May 3 when the deputy, responding to a false domestic disturbance report, shot and killed the 23-year-old airman.
The former Okaloosa County deputy, Eddie Duran, 38, was charged with manslaughter with a firearm, a first-degree felony punishable by up to 30 years in prison. Duran turned himself in and was booked into the county jail on Monday.
Authorities say that Duran shot the airman multiple times after the airman opened the door while holding a handgun pointed down. Only after the shooting did Duran instruct the airman to drop the gun.
An internal investigation revealed that Duran's life was not in danger when he opened fire, leading to his termination by Okaloosa Sheriff Eric Aden. Experts have stated that an officer cannot shoot solely based on a suspect holding a gun if there is no immediate threat.
Duran, a law enforcement veteran, had previously been reprimanded for failing to complete assignments and for leaving his post at a high school before the end of the school day. Records show that deputies had never been called to the airman's apartment before, but had responded to nearby units multiple times in the past.
The tragic incident has sparked outrage and calls for accountability. The airman's family and community members have gathered to honor his memory and demand justice for his untimely death.
