February 7, 2026 BRONX, NY In a decision that has sent shockwaves through the five boroughs and marked a historic shift in police accountability, an NYPD sergeant has been found guilty of manslaughter for a split-second decision that ended in a gruesome death.
A Hunt for Justice in the Bronx
On Friday, Bronx Supreme Court Judge Guy Mitchell delivered a verdict that many thought they would never see. Sgt. Erik Duran, 38, was convicted of second-degree manslaughter for the 2023 death of 30-year-old Eric Duprey. This wasn’t just any trial; Duran is the first active-duty member of the NYPD to be prosecuted in over a decade, making this a massive "shot across the bow" for law enforcement.
The Fatal "Hail Mary"
The incident, which occurred on August 23, 2023, sounds like a freak accident but played out like a horror movie in court. During a drug bust gone wrong, Duprey attempted to flee the scene on a motorized scooter.
Prosecutors argued that Duran, fueled by "frustration" that the bust was failing, grabbed a heavy, loaded cooler and launched it at Duprey’s head with "tremendous force." The impact was catastrophic:
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Duprey swerved violently, slamming into a parked car.
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The force was so great that brain matter was left on the pavement.
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Medical reports cited multiple skull fractures and fatal blunt force trauma.
Heroism or Homicide?
The courtroom was a battleground of narratives. Duran’s defense team painted him as a selfless hero, claiming he threw the cooler to protect pedestrians from being struck by Duprey’s scooter. "He had a choice: Jump out of the way... or take action," his attorney argued.
However, the state—led by Attorney General Letitia James—convinced the judge that heaving a heavy object at a moving driver was a reckless act of violence, not a tactical maneuver.
"Though it cannot return Eric to his loved ones, today’s decision gives justice to his memory," AG Letitia James stated following the verdict.
