N.Y.P.D Sergeant Found Guilty in Death of Bronx Man He Threw Cooler At

A New York State Supreme Court jury in the Bronx found NYPD Sergeant Erik Duran guilty of second-degree manslaughter and assault on Tuesday for the 2023 death of 30-year-old Eric Duprey. The conviction follows a fatal encounter during an undercover drug operation in Kingsbridge where Duran, while attempting to apprehend Duprey for allegedly selling narcotics, hurled a weighted plastic cooler at the suspect as he attempted to flee on a motorized motorbike. The impact caused Duprey to lose control of the vehicle and crash into a tree, resulting in a fatal head injury that sparked widespread local protests and calls for police reform. During the trial, prosecutors argued that Duran’s actions were reckless and far exceeded the scope of reasonable force permitted during a foot pursuit. Video footage played for the jury showed Duran standing on a sidewalk before launching the cooler at Duprey at close range, a move the prosecution described as a violation of standard police protocols. Despite the defense's argument that Duran was making a split-second decision in a high-pressure environment to protect himself and others from a moving vehicle, the jury ultimately determined that the sergeant displayed a conscious disregard for the substantial risk his actions posed to the victim's life. The verdict marks a significant moment in New York's judicial system, as it is one of the rare instances where a law enforcement officer has been held criminally liable for a death occurring during an active pursuit. Sergeant Duran, who was suspended and later stripped of his pay following the incident, now faces a maximum sentence of up to 15 years in state prison. The case has also intensified scrutiny regarding the NYPD’s tactics during narcotics stings and the use of improvised weapons in the field, further straining the relationship between the department and the communities it serves in the Bronx.