NEW YORK (AP) — A former New York City police sergeant was sentenced Thursday to three to nine years in prison for tossing a picnic cooler full of drinks at a fleeing suspect, who then crashed his motorized scooter and died.
The ex-officer, Erik Duran, was convicted of manslaughter in the 2023 death of Eric Duprey. The former sergeant said he was trying to protect other officers from the approaching scooter.
“I took this job to save lives. I felt terrible once I saw Eric Duprey crash,” Duran told the court, expressing regret over the incident.
Judge Guy Mitchell expressed disbelief at Duran’s justification, stating he believed Duran was reacting from anger when he hurled the cooler at Duprey.
“There are no words to express what I feel,” Duprey’s mother, Gretchen Soto, said in court, visibly distraught.
Duran was immediately taken into custody after the sentencing. His attorney has indicated plans to appeal and seek bail during the process.
The case has drawn widespread attention with contrasting support from police unions and demands for accountability from activists. The incident has reignited discussions on the conduct of law enforcement in high-pressure situations.
Duprey, just 30 years old and a father of three, suffered fatal head injuries in the crash, which Duran maintained was an unfortunate consequence of a split-second decision he made to protect his colleagues.
A petition with thousands of signatures seeking leniency for Duran has surfaced, reflecting the polarized reactions surrounding police conduct in the community.
As the legal battle continues, the memory of Duprey remains at the forefront for his family, who seek justice for what they call an unjust incident.
