NYPD Sergeant Convicted of Manslaughter in Bronx Incident
A police sergeant in New York City was convicted on Friday of manslaughter after throwing a drink cooler at a suspect on a scooter, an act that came during a tumultuous drug bust in the Bronx.
Sergeant Eric Duran, 38, was found responsible for the death of Eric Duprey, which occurred on August 23, 2023. This marks a significant moment as he becomes the first NYPD officer in ten years to be found guilty of a killing while on duty.
The ruling was delivered by Judge Guy Mitchell in a packed courtroom, filled with both police officers on one side and Duprey’s family, friends, and activists on the other. To prevent tensions from escalating, officials created a barrier in the hallway.
Duran took the stand in his defense, stating that Duprey was approaching him on a motorized scooter, and he threw the cooler in an effort to protect his fellow officers. During his testimony over the three-week trial, he said, “I thought he was going to kill my people.” After being struck by the cooler, Duprey hit a tree, was thrown off his scooter, and suffered a fatal head injury on the pavement.
He opted for a bench trial in the Bronx, leaving his fate to the judge rather than a jury. The prosecution, representing New York State Attorney General Letitia James’ office, described Duran’s actions as criminally reckless. They pointed to video evidence showing Duprey picking up the cooler and throwing it at Duran while attempting to flee.
In closing arguments, prosecutor Joseph Bianco emphasized that Duran’s actions were “a significant departure from the standard of care expected of a reasonable person.”
With his sentencing approaching, Duran faces a potential sentence of up to 15 years in prison. This case represents a landmark trial as he is the first officer tried under a 2015 law mandating that the state attorney general’s office investigate police-related deaths.
The last police officer to be convicted of an on-duty killing was Peter Liang, a rookie officer who was found guilty in 2016 for shooting unarmed Akai Gurley in a public housing complex. Liang was sentenced to five years of probation along with 800 hours of community service.
