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Man on motorbike dies after NYPD officer throws picnic cooler at him, knocking him to the ground, New York AG says (Update: Cop Charged [Page 3])
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breh on the bike could have crashed into a pedestrian; oncoming traffic....so many variables....wrecless actions by the cop.
Manslaughter charge for NYPD sergeant in cooler toss that killed suspect
NYPD Sgt. Erik Duran is pictured during his arraignment at the Bronx Hall of Justice Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024. (Luiz C. Ribeiro for New York Daily News)
By SHEETAL BANCHARIYA and GRAHAM RAYMAN | grayman@nydailynews.com | New York Daily News
PUBLISHED: January 23, 2024 at 9:51 a.m. | UPDATED: January 23, 2024 at 3:22 p.m.
An NYPD sergeant pleaded not guilty Tuesday in court to a manslaughter charges for causing the August death of a Bronx suspect on a scooter by tossing a cooler at him, causing him to crash.
Sgt. Erik Duran, 36, entered the plea during his arraignment in Supreme Court in the Bronx. The plea also covered criminally negligent homicide and assault charges which he is also facing for the death of Eric Duprey, 30, on Aug. 23 in Kingsbridge Heights.
Duprey, a deliveryman with three young children, was attempting to flee a drug arrest when he crashed.
Obtained by Daily News
Eric Duprey (pictured), a scooter-riding suspect fleeing a Bronx buy-and-bust drug sting, was killed on Aug. 23. (Obtained by Daily News)
“In an effort to stop Mr. Duprey, the defendant grabbed a heavy cooler that was almost filled with drinks and ice. So heavy that he needed two hands to lift the cooler and stepped towards Mr. Duprey and threw the cooler forcefully at his head,” said Assistant Attorney General Jennifer Gashi said in court.
Duran “knew or should have known that (throwing) the cooler at Mr. Duprey would either harm him or distract him and ultimately cause a collision,” Gashi added. “(Duran) was aware of these risks and disregarded them in an act that best shows supreme recklessness and at worst an intentional act of violence.”
Andrew Quinn, Duran’s lawyer, countered his client is being “over-charged.” Duran, a 13-year veteran of the NYPD, acted to protect “children playing soccer” nearby and used the cooler because Duprey was about to crash into two cops as he fled, Quinn said.
“Eric Duprey is dead because of Eric Duprey’s actions,” Quinn said in court noting Duprey was a foot away when the sergeant used the cooler.
“Sgt. Duran was on the street arresting drug dealers. Eric Duprey is, unequivocally without question … a drug dealer. He drove at about 40 mph on a motorcycle on the sidewalk, basically placing lives of everybody on that street (in danger).”
Eric Duprey, a scooter-riding suspect fleeing a Bronx buy-and-bust drug sting, died when an NYPD sergeant struck him with this red cooler. (Obtained by Daily News)
The prosecution is being handled by lawyers with the Office of Special Investigation under state Attorney General Letitia James. The agency is empowered to investigate deaths in law enforcement custody.
According to the Attorney General’s description of the events, members of a police narcotics team were conducting a buy-and-bust operation at Aqueduct Ave. between W. 190th St. and 192nd St. about 5 p.m. on Aug. 23.
The officers encountered Duprey and tried to arrest him, the account said. He fled on the motorized scooter toward 190th St. Duran allegedly grabbed a cooler off a nearby table and threw it at Duprey hitting him in the head.
Duprey lost control of the scooter, sideswiped a tree and was thrown from the scooter, the account said. He struck his head on the curb and landed under a parked vehicle. He died at the scene.
Orlyanis Velez, the wife of Eric Duprey, talks to members of the press after the arraignment of NYPD Sgt. Erik Duran Tuesday in the Bronx. (Luiz C. Ribeiro for NY Daily News)
The city Medical Examiner ruled Duprey died of blunt trauma and classified the case as a homicide.
Duran was suspended by the NYPD almost immediately and both Mayor Adams and NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban criticized his use of the cooler.
After his not guilty plea, Judge George Villegas set Duran’s bail at $150,000. The sergeant, who remains on suspension, faces up to 25 years in prison. He is due back in court on April 18. Villegas said he did not believe Duran would flee but set the bail because of the “seriousness” of the charges.
More than 100 NYPD officers packed the courtroom in support of Duran. Many of them sighed heavily when Villegas set bail.
More than a hundred NYPD officers fill the corridor outside the courtroom where NYPD Sgt. Erik Duran was being charged with manslaughter during his arraignment Tuesday. (Luiz C. Ribeiro for New York Daily News)
Eric Duprey’s wife Orlyanis Velez along with family and friends also witnessed the arraignment, along with members of the Black Lives Matter Greater New York chapter were also present.
Prior to the hearing, there was some tension between the groups. One member of Duprey’s supporters hissed “Goons!” at the officers in the hallway outside the courtroom.
He died instantly from that?
Heavy ass cooler looked like it was full of ice when it hit him. So basically means he got hit by a giant rock while doing 40mph.
I’m CONVINCED these pigs be watching shyt like Bad Boys and thinking they can really get away with this Michael Bay level bullshyt.
Just imagine if there was no video the lies they would’ve come up with to justify murdering that young man
Just imagine if there was no video the lies they would’ve come up with to justify murdering that young man
Most likely died from his head hitting the ground. Wouldn't have happened if he was... @Orbital-Fetus tell em breh.
There can only be one
