Former New York City police sergeant Erik Duran was sentenced to three to nine years in prison on April 9, 2026, for the killing of Eric Duprey, a 30-year-old Bronx resident, during a botched drug arrest in 2023. The case, which played out in the Bronx County Hall of Justice, has become a flashpoint in the national debate over police accountability, use of force, and the consequences officers face when their split-second decisions turn deadly.
The events that led to Duran’s conviction unfolded on August 23, 2023, in the Melrose section of the Bronx. Duran, 38, and a team of narcotics detectives were conducting undercover drug busts at various locations. According to the New York attorney general’s office, police were attempting to arrest another suspect when Duprey, who had just sold $20 worth of cocaine to an undercover officer, fled the scene on a motorized scooter. Surveillance footage showed Duran picking up a full, heavy Igloo picnic cooler and hurling it at Duprey as he sped down the sidewalk. The cooler struck Duprey’s arm, causing him to lose control, crash into a tree, and be flung onto the pavement. He died almost instantly from head injuries.
The aftermath of the incident was swift and highly publicized. Duran was arrested and charged with second-degree manslaughter. He was the first NYPD officer in a decade to be convicted of killing a civilian while on duty, a milestone that underscored the rarity of such prosecutions. The New York attorney general’s office, which since 2021 has been mandated to investigate all deaths at the hands of law enforcement in the state, argued that Duran’s actions were reckless and constituted excessive force. As prosecutor Joseph Bianco told the court, “Sergeant Duran recklessly caused the death of another human. There is no more serious offense than taking the life of another person.”
During the three-week, non-jury trial, Duran took the stand to explain his actions. He testified that he tossed the cooler to protect fellow officers who were in Duprey’s path, fearing for their safety as Duprey fled. Duran’s attorney, Andrew Quinn, emphasized the decision was made in just 2.5 seconds and urged the judge to consider the immense pressure and danger inherent in police work. “No man should be judged entirely for a decision he made in the blink of an eye,” Quinn argued. He also highlighted Duran’s previously exemplary record and the personal costs he had already suffered—losing his job, pension, and facing bleak prospects for future employment.
Despite these pleas, Judge Guy Mitchell was unmoved by the defense’s justification. “I did not see any justification in doing that,” the judge stated, referencing his careful review of the surveillance footage. He acknowledged Duran’s remorse and his difficult upbringing in the Bronx, noting that both Duran and Duprey were Latino men with families deeply impacted by the tragedy. Yet, Mitchell emphasized the gravity of the loss: “The distinction is the deceased, Eric Duprey, will no longer see his family.” The judge explained that the sentence was intended not only to hold Duran accountable but also to serve as a deterrent to other officers who might consider similar actions. “I believe the sentence will deter other officers when they arrest suspects,” Mitchell said. He also pointed out that suspects sometimes escape but can be apprehended later without resorting to dangerous tactics.
The sentencing hearing was an emotionally charged affair, attended by dozens of supporters from both sides. Members of Duprey’s family, including his mother, Gretchen Soto, and the mother of his two children, Pearl Velez, were present, as were advocates against police misconduct and a significant contingent of NYPD officers. Soto addressed the court in Spanish, her grief evident as she pleaded for justice. “As a mother, I have to miss him now every day, and the justice I am asking for is just the normal justice, as any mother would, who was with her child every day,” she said. Duran, visibly emotional, apologized to Duprey’s family in Spanish: “I regret everything that happened; I’m sorry for the loss of your child. I never wanted this to happen. I pray for you and your family.”
The case sparked intense debate within the law enforcement community and beyond. At least 11,000 officers signed a petition urging the court not to incarcerate Duran, and the Sergeants Benevolent Association (SBA) publicly condemned the verdict. SBA President Vincent Vallelong called it “one of the darkest days in the history of our profession,” adding, “It wasn’t only Sgt. Duran, a great cop, who was on trial. Every law enforcement officer who makes a split second decision in the performance of their duties to protect the public, was also on trial. This has now sent a very chilling message to every cop in the nation.” Vallelong vowed that the SBA would support Duran and his family throughout the appeal process.
On the other side, activists—including members of Black Lives Matter—had called for the harshest possible punishment, arguing that Duran’s actions exemplified a pattern of excessive force and lack of accountability in policing. Demonstrators gathered outside the courthouse, some chanting “Justice for Eric Duprey!” and “No one is above the law!” They viewed the sentence as a step toward greater accountability, though some, including Duprey’s family, felt it did not go far enough. Community members and activists had hoped for the maximum 15-year sentence, while the state attorney general’s office had requested three to nine years, which the judge ultimately imposed.
Duran’s defense team immediately announced plans to appeal and requested a one-week stay of the sentence, which Judge Mitchell denied. Duran was taken into custody on the spot, led out of the courtroom without handcuffs but with a heavy heart, as described by witnesses. Outside, Duprey’s family expressed that Duran’s apology came too late to ease their pain. “How they gonna say sorry now?” Velez remarked to reporters.
This case has left an indelible mark on New York’s legal and policing landscape. As the city—and the nation—continues to grapple with questions of justice, accountability, and public safety, the sentencing of Erik Duran stands as a sobering reminder of the profound consequences that can stem from a single moment’s decision.