A former police sergeant from New York City was sentenced on Thursday to three to nine years in prison for an incident in 2023 that resulted in the death of a fleeing suspect.
Eric Duran, 38, was convicted of manslaughter in the death of 30-year-old Eric Duprey. During an undercover operation, Duran reportedly threw a picnic cooler at Duprey as he tried to escape on his scooter. The cooler’s impact caused Duprey to fall and suffer fatal injuries.
Duran claimed that his intention was to protect a fellow officer from the speeding scooter, but the judge held him criminally accountable. This sentencing marks the first time in over two decades that a former NYPD officer has received such a punishment for an on-duty death.
“I came into this profession to save lives, and I felt awful watching Eric Duprey crash,” Duran told the judge, expressing that he “did everything I could” to assist Duprey after the incident. He also apologized to Duprey’s family in Spanish, which was translated in court.
In response, Duprey’s mother, Gretchen Soto, said, “There are no words to express how I feel.”
Judge Guy Mitchell questioned Duran’s motivations, suggesting that the cooler was thrown out of anger rather than necessity. He noted that Duprey might have been apprehended later if Duran hadn’t intervened.
Duran was taken into custody right after his sentencing, but his lawyer announced intentions to seek bail while appealing the decision.
Surveillance footage showed Duran picking up a cooler and tossing it at Duprey as he sped down the sidewalk.
Upon being hit, Duprey lost control of his scooter, crashed into a tree, and hit his head on the ground. Prosecutors stated that he wasn’t wearing a helmet, leading to fatal injuries that caused his death almost immediately.
During the trial, Duran testified that his actions were impulsive and motivated by a desire to protect his colleagues.
“He was about to crash into us,” Duran said, emphasizing the limited time he had to react.
However, prosecutors contended that Duran had opportunities to yell at onlookers to move aside instead of throwing the cooler. They characterized his actions as stemming from anger, asserting that he attempted to cover up what had transpired.
“This day will always be the darkest moment for our profession,” noted the union president, Vincent Vallelong.
Inside the courtroom, numerous NYPD officers showed their support for Duran, while outside, protesters called for justice for Duprey, highlighting a significant divide in public opinion. Duran’s union had even gathered thousands of signatures on an online petition advocating for his release.
Yet, the prosecutor maintained that Duran’s “reckless” behavior was responsible for Duprey’s death, implying that Duran knew he was attempting to obscure his actions. In contrast, defense attorney Andre Quinn argued for leniency, deeming the fatality an “unintended consequence” of a brief, rash decision.
Quinn characterized Duran, a married father of three and lifelong Bronx resident, as someone who had led a commendable life before this incident and had aspired to improve the borough for future generations.
Duran, who had 13 years of service with the NYPD, was terminated soon after his February conviction. He chose a jury trial, leaving the final decision up to the judge instead of a jury.
Eric Duprey had been working as a delivery driver, and his mother mentioned that she had been on the phone with him shortly before the confrontation. She disputed claims that Duprey was involved in drug activity or fleeing from the police at the time of the incident.
