Trial starts for NYPD sergeant Erik Druan over Eric Duprey’s death

NYPD Sergeant on Trial for Fatal Encounter

An undercover NYPD sergeant, facing serious charges, was in court as a high-profile trial began. Nearly three years ago, he feared for his life during a drug operation when he made a split-second choice to throw a cooler at a suspect on a scooter, which ultimately resulted in the suspect’s death, according to his lawyer.

Sergeant Eric Duran, 38, is on trial in Bronx Criminal Court, charged with second-degree manslaughter, assault, and criminally negligent homicide. This stems from the incident on August 23, 2023, which involved the death of 30-year-old Eric Duprey.

During the opening statements, defense attorney Andrew Quinn emphasized that Duprey accelerated his motorcycle toward Duran and others at 30 mph, prompting Duran to act on instinct. “He did what any good officer would do,” Quinn claimed, pointing out Duran’s split-second decision to step “into danger.”

Quinn told Judge Guy Mitchell, who will decide the case’s outcome, that Duran had only two and a half seconds to make a crucial decision, with the fatality stemming from Duprey’s actions. “We don’t teach officers to throw coolers, but saving a life sometimes requires unconventional decisions,” he stated.

The prosecution, represented by the state attorney general’s office, argued that Duran was conducting a drug buy when Duprey fled on his electric scooter. They claim Duran threw a cooler at Duprey, striking him in the head, which caused Duprey to crash into a tree and hit his head on the curb, leading to his death from blunt force trauma.

Angel Chio, the prosecutor, described the severity of Duprey’s injuries, with first responders reportedly discovering brain matter at the scene. Chio asserted that Duprey did not pose a life-threatening danger and accused Duran of resorting to unnecessary violence. “No one’s life was in jeopardy that day,” she insisted.

Chio criticized law enforcement for becoming overwhelmed during the operation, suggesting that instead of handling the situation appropriately, Duran made a reckless choice in the heat of the moment.

Footage from surveillance cameras showed the moment Duprey was hit by the cooler and subsequently fell from his scooter amid bystanders.

Duran, who has been suspended from the NYPD and later reassigned, has consistently maintained his innocence. Throughout the trial, he displayed little emotion, with the courtroom filled with family and supporters of both Duran and Duprey.