Judge Convicts NYPD Sgt. Erik Duran in Cooler-Throwing Death
Judge Guy Mitchell convicted Sgt. Erik Duran of second-degree manslaughter for a cooler throw that killed Eric Duprey on Aug. 23, 2023.
Overview
Bronx County Judge Guy Mitchell convicted NYPD Sgt. Erik Duran, 38, of second-degree manslaughter on Feb. 6 for throwing a cooler that led to the Aug. 23, 2023 death of Eric Duprey, records show.
The case was prosecuted by New York Attorney General Letitia James's office under a 2015 law covering police-involved deaths, and the conviction carries a maximum 15-year prison term, officials said.
Duran testified he threw the cooler to protect fellow officers, a claim Judge Mitchell rejected, while prosecutors said Duprey did not pose a threat, trial records show.
Security video released by James's office shows Duran grabbing a red cooler full of ice and drinks and hurling it at Duprey, who lost control of his motorized scooter and died minutes later, prosecutors said.
Duran was dismissed from the NYPD under state law after the Feb. 6 felony conviction and faces sentencing on March 19, and the Sergeants Benevolent Association said it will review legal options, the union said.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the story around accountability and evidence by foregrounding the conviction, the attorney general’s statement, released security video, and a prior substantiated complaint—creating a prosecutorial narrative. Defense voices (a union statement calling it a “miscarriage of justice”) are included but receive less contextual detail, so editorial emphasis favors institutional accountability.
Sources (3)
FAQ
On August 23, 2023, during a drug bust in the Bronx, NYPD Sgt. Erik Duran threw a red cooler full of ice and drinks at Eric Duprey, who was fleeing on a motorized scooter after selling cocaine to undercover officers, causing Duprey to crash and die from head injuries.
Bronx County Judge Guy Mitchell convicted Sgt. Erik Duran of second-degree manslaughter on February 6, 2026, in a bench trial, but found him not guilty of criminally negligent homicide.
Duran faces a maximum sentence of 5 to 15 years in prison at his sentencing on March 19, 2026, has been dismissed from the NYPD, and the Sergeants Benevolent Association plans to review legal options.
The case was prosecuted by NY AG Letitia James's office under a 2015 state law granting jurisdiction over police-involved deaths, regardless of whether the officer was on-duty or the decedent was armed.
History
This story does not have any previous versions.