NYPD Sergeant Found Guilty in Brutal Arrest Case
A Bronx judge handed down a guilty verdict on Friday, convicting NYPD sergeant Erik Duran of second-degree manslaughter for killing 32-year-old Eric Duprey with a cooler during an attempted arrest in August 2023. The conviction marks a rare instance of law enforcement accountability in New York.
According to prosecutors, Duran was involved in an undercover operation aimed at arresting suspected drug dealers on Aqueduct Avenue when Duprey, who was riding a motorcycle, fled the scene. In an attempt to apprehend him, Duran allegedly picked up a cooler and hurled it at Duprey, striking him on the head with such force that he died almost instantly.
Duran's defense attorney argued that the sergeant acted in self-defense and sought to protect himself and others from what he believed was a catastrophic situation. However, prosecutors countered that there was no imminent threat posed by Duprey, who was not an armed or violent individual at the time of the arrest.
The guilty verdict is a significant development in New York, where law enforcement accountability has long been a contentious issue. Advocates for social justice, including Black Lives Matter Greater New York, hailed the conviction as a "signal" that holds police officers accountable when they engage in excessive force.
However, not everyone is celebrating the verdict. The Sergeants Benevolent Association, which represents Duran and other NYPD sergeants, has called it a "miscarriage of justice." The union's president, Vincent Vallelong, claimed that the verdict sends a terrible message to hardworking police officers who are working to keep communities safe.
Attorney General Letitia James offered condolences to Duprey's family in a statement, saying that while justice cannot bring back the victim, it can help ensure that such tragedies do not happen again. Duran is facing five to 15 years in prison and will be sentenced on March 19.
A Bronx judge handed down a guilty verdict on Friday, convicting NYPD sergeant Erik Duran of second-degree manslaughter for killing 32-year-old Eric Duprey with a cooler during an attempted arrest in August 2023. The conviction marks a rare instance of law enforcement accountability in New York.
According to prosecutors, Duran was involved in an undercover operation aimed at arresting suspected drug dealers on Aqueduct Avenue when Duprey, who was riding a motorcycle, fled the scene. In an attempt to apprehend him, Duran allegedly picked up a cooler and hurled it at Duprey, striking him on the head with such force that he died almost instantly.
Duran's defense attorney argued that the sergeant acted in self-defense and sought to protect himself and others from what he believed was a catastrophic situation. However, prosecutors countered that there was no imminent threat posed by Duprey, who was not an armed or violent individual at the time of the arrest.
The guilty verdict is a significant development in New York, where law enforcement accountability has long been a contentious issue. Advocates for social justice, including Black Lives Matter Greater New York, hailed the conviction as a "signal" that holds police officers accountable when they engage in excessive force.
However, not everyone is celebrating the verdict. The Sergeants Benevolent Association, which represents Duran and other NYPD sergeants, has called it a "miscarriage of justice." The union's president, Vincent Vallelong, claimed that the verdict sends a terrible message to hardworking police officers who are working to keep communities safe.
Attorney General Letitia James offered condolences to Duprey's family in a statement, saying that while justice cannot bring back the victim, it can help ensure that such tragedies do not happen again. Duran is facing five to 15 years in prison and will be sentenced on March 19.
. As a parent, it breaks my heart to think about the pain his family must be going through. I mean, who wants their child to die in the line of duty? The fact that Duran picked up a cooler and threw it at Eric just because he was trying to flee doesn't sit right with me either 
. It's like, what if it was your kid? You'd want them to be protected, not hurt by someone who is supposed to be on the same side as us.
. Of course, I can understand why some people might feel like this verdict sends a bad message to law enforcement, but for me, it's just common sense: if you're not doing something to hurt someone, then what business is it of yours? 
this verdict better be the start of change for NYPD's brutal policing tactics we need more accountability like this to hold officers responsible for their actions no more excuses for 'self-defense' when someone's just trying to get away from a crime scene! 
. The fact that he resorted to using a cooler as a weapon is just insane 
. It's like he was more concerned with getting the job done than with protecting human life. And now he's gonna get 5-15 years? That seems kinda light considering the severity of the crime 
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. And sometimes those decisions don't feel fair or justifiable 
.
. This verdict is a step in the right direction, but there's still so much work to be done 
.
now let's see how this plays out in sentencing - 5-15 years seems kinda lenient to me 
his family deserve so much better than what went down Aug 2023 
NYPD gotta get their act together, can't just go around throwing coolers at people who aren't even armed lol what's next, gonna start using hammers? 
but seriously, this verdict is a huge step forward for accountability and makes it clear that excessive force won't be tolerated anymore 
I mean, Erik Duran was just trying to do his job but he went about it all wrong. Using a cooler as a weapon? That's just insane! 
This is a huge step forward for accountability in the NYPD. I mean, we've been hearing about police brutality and excessive force for years now, and it's time someone held them accountable.
. They're just trying to save their own butts. I'm all about people being held to account for their actions, especially when it comes to harming others.
no need for a cooler to the head lol what if duran didn't pick that up 
On a broader scale, it's just crazy to think about how often this kind of thing happens and not enough people are held accountable... 
DURAN'S DEFENSE ATTORNEY TRYING TO SWEETEN HIS DEAL BY SAYING HE WAS ACTING IN SELF-DEFENSE IS LIKE, GUILTY PARTY CLOTHING 
AND CAN YOU BELIEVE THE SERGEANTS BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION IS TRYING TO DISMISS THIS AS A "MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE"?!?! IT'S NOT ABOUT BEING FAIR ON DURAN, IT'S ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY FOR HIS ACTIONS! 
interesting how some are already saying it's a miscarriage of justice 
But seriously, this is what happens when accountability is key... a life lost to senseless violence. We gotta do better 
Like, seriously though, this verdict better be the start of some real change. It's crazy how one guy can just pick up a crate of beer and become a human battering ram. And what's with the "self-defense" thing? If I were in his shoes (or rather, helmet), I'd know I was about to get a serious head injury if Eric Duprey decided to flee. Glad someone held him accountable... now let's see if it translates into actual reform around here 
This kinda cop behavior needs to stop, period