A Bronx drug arrest that spiraled into a deadly street collision has now ended with a rare criminal conviction of a New York City police officer.
According to Fox News, an NYPD sergeant who hurled a plastic cooler at a fleeing suspect during a 2023 undercover operation was found guilty of manslaughter Friday, marking the first on-duty killing conviction of a city officer in roughly a decade.
Sgt. Erik Duran, 38, was convicted of the death of Eric Duprey, who was riding a scooter along a Bronx sidewalk as plainclothes narcotics officers moved in to arrest him during what police described as a “buy-and-bust” operation involving a $20 cocaine sale.
Duprey attempted to flee as officers approached, according to testimony cited by the New York Post.
Instead of standing before a jury, Duran waived that right and was tried by a judge. Bronx Supreme Court Judge Guy Mitchell delivered the verdict Friday afternoon.
Duran now faces up to 15 years in prison. His sentencing is scheduled for March 19.
The prosecution was handled by New York Attorney General Letitia James’ office, which gained authority over police-involved deaths under a 2015 state law.
Surveillance footage played a central role in the case. Video shows Duprey riding his scooter toward a group of individuals who do not appear to be in uniform. As he nears them, Duran is seen lifting a red object — later identified as a plastic cooler — and throwing it at close range toward Duprey’s head.
The impact caused Duprey to lose control. He was flung from the scooter toward a tree as the bike veered into the street, struck a metal barricade and slid into a parked car. Duprey was pronounced dead minutes later, police said.
The courtroom was tense as the verdict was read, with uniformed officers seated on one side and Duprey’s family, friends and activists on the other. Court officers kept the groups separated.
Duran lowered his gaze at the defense table as Duprey’s mother, Gretchen Soto, and his partner, Pearl Velez, wept in the gallery.
“I never lost faith. I always was, you know … that justice is going to happen,” Velez told reporters afterward.
Duran testified during the three-week trial, insisting he acted to protect fellow officers.
“I thought he was going to kill my guys,” Duran said.
Judge Mitchell rejected that defense.
“After consideration of all evidence, the people proved beyond all reasonable doubt that this defendant was not justified,” the judge said.
The Sergeants’ Benevolent Association swiftly condemned the verdict. SBA President Vincent Vallelong called it a “miscarriage of justice.”
“We vigorously maintain Sgt. Duran’s innocence,” Vallelong said. “The verdict rendered by Judge Mitchell is clearly against the weight of the credible evidence.”
“Verdicts such as this send a terrible message to hard-working cops,” he added, warning officers could face criminal charges even when they believe force is justified.
Duran joined the NYPD in 2010 and received dozens of commendations during his career. His record also includes a substantiated 2022 Civilian Complaint Review Board finding for abusing his authority during a stop.
The conviction now places the case among the most closely watched police prosecutions in New York City in recent years.
