Attorney General James Announces Sentencing of Former NYPD Sergeant for Manslaughter

April 9, 2026

NEW YORK - New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced the sentencing of former New York City Police Department (NYPD) Sergeant Erik Duran, 38, of Putnam County, for causing the death of Eric Duprey on August 23, 2023. On February 6, 2026, Duran was found guilty in a bench trial before Judge Guy Mitchell in Bronx Supreme Court on the charge of Manslaughter in the Second Degree. Today, Duran was sentenced to three to nine years in prison. Judge Mitchell denied a stay of execution.

At approximately 5 p.m. on August 23, members of NYPD's Narcotics Borough Bronx (NBBX) Tactical Response Unit team arrived on Aqueduct Avenue between West 190th and 192nd Streets in the Bronx to conduct their fourth "buy-and-bust" operation, or undercover drug purchase, of the day. After Mr. Duprey sold a small quantity of cocaine to an undercover officer, other plain clothes NBBX team members moved onto the block to arrest him. Mr. Duprey got on a motorized scooter, apparently attempting to avoid arrest. As Mr. Duprey rode the scooter down the sidewalk of Aqueduct Avenue, Duran grabbed a picnic cooler off a nearby table and forcefully heaved it at Mr. Duprey's head, causing him to lose control of the scooter and fall into the street at high speed. Mr. Duprey was pronounced dead at the scene.

Pursuant to New York State Executive Law Section 70-b, OSI assesses every incident reported to it where a police officer or a peace officer, including a corrections officer, may have caused the death of a person by an act or omission. Under the law, the officer may be on-duty or off-duty, and the decedent may be armed or unarmed. Also, the decedent may or may not be in custody or incarcerated. If OSI's assessment indicates an officer may have caused the death, OSI proceeds to conduct a full investigation of the incident.