New York City Police Sergeant Convicted of Manslaughter in Fatal Bronx Arrest
A Bronx judge has handed down a guilty verdict to an NYPD sergeant, convicting him of second-degree manslaughter for killing a man by throwing a cooler at his head during an attempted arrest. The incident occurred on August 23, 2023, when Sergeant Erik Duran and other narcotics officers were attempting to bust several locations around the Bronx. However, the situation took a turn for the worse as Eric Duprey, who was fleeing on a motorbike, refused to be apprehended.
According to prosecutors, Duran's decision to use deadly force was not justified, as there was no imminent threat from Duprey. Instead, Duran reportedly threw a cooler filled with drinks at Duprey, knocking him off his scooter and onto the pavement where he suffered fatal injuries. The defense attorney for Sergeant Duran argued that the sergeant had made a split-second decision to protect himself and others, but this claim was rejected by the judge.
The conviction marks the first time an NYPD officer has been found guilty of killing someone while on duty since at least 2021, when New York passed a law requiring the attorney general's office to investigate killings by law enforcement. As a result, Sergeant Duran will face five to 15 years in prison for his role in Duprey's death.
Reacting to the verdict, Attorney General Letitia James offered her condolences to Duprey's family, stating that while justice could not bring him back, it would give his loved ones some measure of closure. The Black Lives Matter Greater New York organization also welcomed the conviction, saying it drew a line and held accountable those who abuse their power.
The verdict has sparked controversy among law enforcement unions, with the Sergeants Benevolent Association calling it a "miscarriage of justice." However, prosecutors maintain that Duran's actions were reckless and unjustified. As sentencing is set for March 19, the impact of this conviction will be closely watched by advocates for police accountability and reform.
A Bronx judge has handed down a guilty verdict to an NYPD sergeant, convicting him of second-degree manslaughter for killing a man by throwing a cooler at his head during an attempted arrest. The incident occurred on August 23, 2023, when Sergeant Erik Duran and other narcotics officers were attempting to bust several locations around the Bronx. However, the situation took a turn for the worse as Eric Duprey, who was fleeing on a motorbike, refused to be apprehended.
According to prosecutors, Duran's decision to use deadly force was not justified, as there was no imminent threat from Duprey. Instead, Duran reportedly threw a cooler filled with drinks at Duprey, knocking him off his scooter and onto the pavement where he suffered fatal injuries. The defense attorney for Sergeant Duran argued that the sergeant had made a split-second decision to protect himself and others, but this claim was rejected by the judge.
The conviction marks the first time an NYPD officer has been found guilty of killing someone while on duty since at least 2021, when New York passed a law requiring the attorney general's office to investigate killings by law enforcement. As a result, Sergeant Duran will face five to 15 years in prison for his role in Duprey's death.
Reacting to the verdict, Attorney General Letitia James offered her condolences to Duprey's family, stating that while justice could not bring him back, it would give his loved ones some measure of closure. The Black Lives Matter Greater New York organization also welcomed the conviction, saying it drew a line and held accountable those who abuse their power.
The verdict has sparked controversy among law enforcement unions, with the Sergeants Benevolent Association calling it a "miscarriage of justice." However, prosecutors maintain that Duran's actions were reckless and unjustified. As sentencing is set for March 19, the impact of this conviction will be closely watched by advocates for police accountability and reform.
they shouldve just used pepper spray or something like 5 secs ago tho... anyway, gotta feel for Eric Duprey's fam i guess his death was preventable if u ask me 
... I mean, who throws a cooler at someone? Like, what's the thinking there? 
But seriously, it sounds like Sergeant Duran made a huge mistake. I don't think you can just use deadly force unless you're in a super life-threatening situation, and even then, there are rules to follow. I'm all for keeping cops safe too, but this guy took the whole 'protecting himself' thing way too far 
.
. He should've taken a deep breath and called for backup or something. Instead, he acted on impulse and now Eric Duprey is dead 
. It's just not right.
. And good on Black Lives Matter for speaking out against police abuse - we need more of that 
. But, I don't know, some cops are still gonna be like 'miscarriage of justice' and that's just... ugh, no 
. I just hope Duran gets the time he deserves and we can start talking about real police reform 
.
.
, let me tell you - they've been having the benefit of the system for too long already.
just got done watching that episode of Law & Order: SVU and I'm still shook about all the crazy stuff that goes down in New York City 
like, a cooler to the head? 
how does that even happen?! anyway, i gotta say, this verdict is a major step towards holding cops accountable for their actions 
it's not about being anti-cop, it's just about making sure everyone is treated fairly and with respect 
can't wait to see how this plays out in the courts 
... you gotta wonder what was going through sergeants mind when he threw that cooler at duprey's head 
five to 15 years is still too lenient if you ask me 
Anyway, back to this case... I don't get why the cops can't just let people go if they're not hurting anyone. It's like, common sense right? 
And what's up with all these laws and stuff? Can someone explain that to me? 
Officer down 
Coolers don't kill people! 
Who needs that kind of training? 
#JusticeForEric
. Now we gotta see if he'll get the right sentence 
.
. So yeah, I'm keeping an eye on this one 
might help visualize this situation...
just another case of law enforcement feeling threatened by someone doing god forbid, exercising their 4th amendment rights... it's all about power and control, folks 
. It's like, we're still debating whether or not cops are human too? You know? They've got families, friends, hopes & dreams just like everyone else 
. Can't we find a way to hold each other accountable without tearing down the very people we need to protect ourselves from? The verdict might bring closure for Eric Duprey's family, but I'm not sure it'll bring us much closer to finding those answers 
.