NYPD sergeant faces sentencing after manslaughter conviction for throwing cooler at suspect's head

NYPD Sgt. Erik Duran faces sentencing Thursday after he was convicted of manslaughter for throwing a cooler at a fleeing suspect who later died.

Duran, 38, was found guilty in February for the 2023 death of Eric Duprey. He faces up to 15 years in prison.

Deadly NYPD encounter

On Aug. 23 2023, Duprey allegedly sold drugs to an undercover officer in the Bronx, then fled on a motorized scooter when officers tried to arrest him.

According to authorities, 30-year-old Duprey was traveling at 30 mph, driving on the sidewalk and not wearing a helmet.

Video from the incident shows Sgt. Duran throwing a picnic cooler at Duprey's head as he flees. Duprey then swerves and slides under a vehicle. He died from blunt force trauma to the head.

Duran was suspended after the incident and later charged with manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide.

Manslaughter trial 

During his testimony at trial, Duran said he was worried Duprey was going to crash into other officers and was trying to protect them by throwing the cooler.

Prosecutors argued Duran was trying to "save an arrest," not lives, and called his actions "reckless, unreasonable [and] unnecessary."

Duran was convicted of manslaughter after a bench trial, meaning there was no jury and the judge rendered the verdict.

The criminally negligent homicide charge was waived.