On Friday, a New York City police officer was found guilty of second-degree manslaughter in a case involving the death of Eric Duprey. Sgt. Erik Duran was convicted after his actions, which included tossing a picnic cooler filled with drinks at a fleeing suspect, inadvertently resulted in Duprey's fatal crash on a motorized scooter. This pivotal verdict was delivered by Judge Guy Mitchell in the Bronx criminal court.
During a brief hearing, Judge Mitchell emphasized that Duran's status as a police officer did not influence the trial's outcome. "The fact that the defendant is a police officer has no bearing," Mitchell remarked. Duprey’s family reacted emotionally to the verdict, with his wife, Orlyanis Velez, expressing a mix of relief and disbelief, stating, "I was waiting for justice just like everybody, but when the moment happens, you can’t believe it’s happening."
The conviction marks a significant moment as Duran is the first NYPD officer in years to be tried for causing a death while on duty. Following the verdict, the police sergeants' union condemned the ruling as a "miscarriage of justice." Vincent Vallelong, the president of the Sergeants Benevolent Association, voiced concerns about the implications of the decision for law enforcement, arguing that it sends a negative message regarding the use of force in the line of duty.
In January 2023, Duran was involved in an undercover narcotics operation when Duprey allegedly sold drugs to an officer and subsequently fled. Security footage showed Duran grabbing a red cooler and throwing it at Duprey in an attempt to halt his escape. The cooler struck Duprey, who then lost control of his scooter, crashed into a tree, and fell onto the pavement before landing under a parked car. Tragically, Duprey, who was not wearing a helmet at the time, sustained fatal head injuries and died almost instantly.
Duran faced multiple charges, including criminally negligent homicide, but the assault charge was dismissed as the judge found insufficient evidence of intent to harm Duprey. Duran maintained his innocence during the trial, arguing that he acted out of a need to protect fellow officers from what he perceived as an imminent threat. He insisted that he threw the cooler in a state of immediate reaction, claiming, "I didn’t have time. All I had time for was to try again to stop or to try to get him to change directions."
Despite Duran's defense, prosecutors argued that Duprey did not pose a threat at the time of the incident. They contended that Duran's actions were reckless and negligent, suggesting he had the opportunity to warn others instead of acting out of anger and frustration. After the guilty verdict was announced, Duran was dismissed from the police force as mandated by state law and is now facing a potential sentence of up to 15 years in prison, with sentencing scheduled for March 19.
State Attorney General Letitia James, who oversaw the prosecution, extended her condolences to Duprey's family, stating, "Though it cannot return Eric to his loved ones, today’s decision gives justice to his memory." The verdict is considered a significant development in the ongoing scrutiny of police conduct and accountability in New York City.
