by Bronx, New York – An NYPD sergeant has been convicted of manslaughter in the death of a scooter-riding man during an undercover drug operation, marking the first time in nearly a decade that a New York City police officer has been found guilty for killing someone while on duty.
A judge on Friday found Erik Duran, 38, guilty in the August 23, 2023, death of Eric Duprey, who was killed after being struck by a thrown drink cooler during a chaotic police operation in the Bronx.
Verdict Delivered After Bench Trial
The decision was handed down by Guy Mitchell following a bench trial, meaning the case was decided by a judge rather than a jury. The courtroom was heavily divided, with uniformed officers on one side and Duprey’s family, friends, and activists on the other, separated by court officers.
As the verdict was read, Duprey’s mother Gretchen Soto and his partner Pearl Velez, the mother of his two children, broke down in tears.
“I never lost faith,” Velez told reporters afterward. “I always believed that justice was going to happen.”
Supporters of Duprey later filled the courthouse hallway chanting, “Guilty! Guilty! Guilty!”
Judge Rejects Self-Defense Claim
Duran testified during the three-week trial that he threw a full Igloo cooler because he believed Duprey was about to strike other officers while fleeing on a motorized scooter.
“I thought he was going to kill my guys,” Duran said from the witness stand.
The judge rejected that claim, ruling that Duran’s actions did not meet the legal standard for justified use of deadly force.
“After consideration of all evidence, the people proved beyond all reasonable doubt that this defendant was not justified,” Judge Mitchell said.
Prosecutors argued that throwing a heavy cooler at a fleeing suspect was criminally reckless and a gross deviation from reasonable police conduct.
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How the Fatal Incident Unfolded
Trial testimony revealed that Duran was supervising an undercover buy-and-bust drug operation inside a park near Aqueduct Avenue and West 190th Street in the Kingsbridge Heights neighborhood.
Duprey had sold $20 worth of cocaine to an undercover officer before fleeing the scene on a scooter. Video evidence showed Duprey being struck in the arm by the cooler, losing control, and crashing into a tree.
He was thrown from the scooter, hit his head on the pavement, and died almost instantly, prosecutors said.
Sentencing and Bond Conditions
Duran was convicted of second-degree manslaughter and now faces up to 15 years in prison. He is scheduled to be sentenced on March 19.
The judge allowed him to remain free on an increased $500,000 bond, with a deadline to post collateral by Tuesday.
Historic Case for NYPD Accountability
This conviction is significant because it is the first on-duty NYPD killing conviction since 2016, when rookie officer Peter Liang was found guilty in the fatal shooting of Akai Gurley inside a public housing stairwell.
That earlier case led to probation rather than prison, but Duran now faces the possibility of a lengthy sentence.
The trial was prosecuted by the office of Letitia James, following a state law passed in 2015 requiring the attorney general’s office to investigate deaths involving police use of force.
Union Condemns Verdict
Duran was represented by attorneys affiliated with the Sergeant’s Benevolent Association, which sharply criticized the verdict.
“We vigorously maintain Sergeant Duran’s innocence,” said SBA President Vincent Vallelong. “This verdict is a miscarriage of justice and sends a dangerous message to police officers.”
The union warned that the ruling could discourage officers from using force, even when they believe lives are at risk.
Family Says Justice Was Long Overdue
For Duprey’s loved ones, the conviction represents accountability after nearly two years of legal proceedings.
“This never should have happened,” supporters said, emphasizing that Duprey was fleeing and unarmed when he was struck.
As the city reacts to the ruling, the case is already being cited as a watershed moment in the ongoing debate over police use of force and accountability in New York.
What are your thoughts on this verdict and how police use-of-force cases should be handled? Share your perspective in the comments below.
