A former New York Police Department sergeant, Erik Duran, has been sentenced to three to nine years in prison for the manslaughter of Eric Duprey, who died after crashing his motorized scooter when Duran threw a picnic cooler at him. The incident occurred during a "buy-and-bust" drug operation in the Bronx on August 23, 2023.
Key Takeaways
Former NYPD sergeant Erik Duran was sentenced to three to nine years in prison for manslaughter after throwing a cooler at fleeing suspect Eric Duprey, causing him to crash his scooter and die. This is the first such conviction in decades.
- Former NYPD sergeant Erik Duran sentenced to 3-9 years for manslaughter
- Duran threw a cooler at fleeing suspect Eric Duprey, causing fatal crash
- First NYPD officer convicted of on-duty death in two decades
- Judge rejected defense that actions were justified
Duran, 38, was convicted of second-degree manslaughter and is the first former NYPD officer sentenced to prison for an on-duty death in at least two decades. He claimed he acted to protect other officers from Duprey's approaching scooter, but Judge Guy Mitchell rejected this defense, stating that Duran threw the cooler because he was upset that Duprey was getting away.
Duprey's mother, Gretchen Soto, and his partner, Pearl Velez, expressed their grief and refused to accept Duran's apology. The sentencing drew a mix of reactions, with NYPD officers supporting Duran and protesters outside the courthouse demanding justice for Duprey.
The case has sparked debate within the law enforcement community, with Duran's union, the Sergeants Benevolent Association, arguing that the sentence could deter officers from making split-second decisions. Prosecutors maintained that Duran's actions were reckless and unnecessary.
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