Trending Now - Ex-nypd Officer Sentenced for Fatal Cooler Incident

WHO:

CNN - Erik Duran, a former New York City police sergeant.

CNN - Eric Duprey, the victim who died as a result of the incident.

CNN - Gretchen Soto, Eric Duprey's mother.

CNN - Judge Guy Mitchell, who presided over the case.

CNN - Vincent Vallelong, President of the Sergeants Benevolent Association.

ABC News - Letitia James, New York Attorney General.

WHAT:

CNN - Duran expressed in court, “I took this job to save lives. I felt terrible once I saw Eric Duprey crash,” and added, “I never wanted this to happen,” addressing Duprey’s family directly in Spanish.

CNN - Judge Guy Mitchell stated that the prison sentence would serve as a “general deterrent” to other police officers.

NY Post - Duran was described as a “model” cop before his downfall, having grown up in a violent New York City neighborhood.

CNN - Duran's union, the Sergeants Benevolent Association, stated that thousands of officers have signed an online petition calling for him to be spared prison.

CNN - Prosecutors with state Attorney General Letitia James’ office sought a three-to-nine-year prison sentence for Duran.

CNN - Duran was an NYPD officer for 13 years before he was suspended after the crash.

CNN - Duprey's mother, Gretchen Soto, stated in court, “It is an unjust incident,” and added, “As a mother, I have to miss him now every day.”

CNN - Thousands of officers have signed an online petition calling for Erik Duran to be spared prison, according to the Sergeants Benevolent Association.

CNN - Prosecutor Joseph Bianco stated that Duran “recklessly caused Duprey’s death” while on duty and attempted to cover up his actions.

CNN - Duran was dismissed from the NYPD after his conviction in February 2026.

CNN - Duprey was 30 years old at the time of his death and worked as a delivery driver with three young children.

CNN - Gretchen Soto, Duprey's mother, stated in court, “There are no words to express what I feel,” while weeping as Duran spoke.

CNN - Duran expressed remorse in court, stating, “I took this job to save lives. I felt terrible once I saw Eric Duprey crash,” and added, “I never wanted this to happen.”

CNN - Judge Guy Mitchell stated that he did not accept Duran’s defense, saying, “It is the court’s belief that the defendant, Sgt. Duran, was upset that Mr. Duprey was getting away.”

NY Post - Judge Guy Mitchell claimed the prison sentence would serve as a “general deterrent” to other police officers.

CNN - Erik Duran was sentenced to three to nine years in prison for manslaughter.

CNN - Duran was convicted for throwing a picnic cooler at Eric Duprey, causing Duprey to crash his motorized scooter and die.

CNN - Duprey sustained fatal head injuries and died almost instantly after the crash.

ABC News - Duran was part of a narcotics policing group conducting a “buy-and-bust” operation.

WHERE:

CNN - The incident occurred in the Bronx, New York City.

CNN - The sentencing took place in a Bronx courthouse.

WHEN:

CNN - The incident involving Eric Duprey occurred on August 23rd, 2023.

CNN - Duran was sentenced on April 7th, 2026.

CNN - Duran was convicted in February 2026.

WHY:

NY Post - Duran's conviction has been characterized by some as a “dark day for law-enforcement officers everywhere,” with claims of it being an egregious miscarriage of justice.

CNN - Judge Guy Mitchell indicated that he did not accept Duran’s defense, stating, “It is the court’s belief that the defendant, Sgt. Duran, was upset that Mr. Duprey was getting away.”

CNN - Prosecutor Joseph Bianco stated that Duran “recklessly caused Duprey’s death” while on duty and attempted to cover up his actions.

CNN - Duran claimed he threw the cooler to protect other officers from Duprey, who was approaching on a scooter.

CNN - Prosecutors argued that Duran acted recklessly and had time to warn others instead of throwing the cooler.

HOW:

CNN - Duran opted to have Judge Guy Mitchell, not a jury, decide the case.

CNN - Duran testified that he immediately tried to help Duprey after seeing the crash and the extent of the man's injuries.

CNN - Duran testified that he made a “split-second decision” to protect other officers from Duprey, stating, “He was gonna crash into us.”

CNN - Duran threw a picnic cooler full of ice, water, and sodas at Duprey as he drove on a sidewalk.

CNN - Surveillance video captured the moment Duprey was struck by the cooler, leading to his loss of control and subsequent crash.

(UPDATED April 10, 2026 03:58 UTC)

In a court appearance, Duran expressed his remorse, stating, “I took this job to save lives,” and addressed the family of Eric Duprey directly in Spanish, saying he never wanted the tragic crash to happen. Judge Guy Mitchell emphasized that Duran's prison sentence would act as a “general deterrent” for other police officers, highlighting the seriousness of the situation. Duran, once regarded as a “model” cop who grew up in a tough New York City neighborhood, is now facing a conviction that some have labeled a “dark day for law enforcement officers everywhere.”

(UPDATED April 10, 2026 01:22 UTC)

Thousands of officers have signed an online petition urging that Duran, a former NYPD officer who served for 13 years before being suspended after a crash, be spared a prison sentence. Prosecutors from Attorney General Letitia James’ office are seeking a three-to-nine-year sentence for Duran, while Duprey's mother, Gretchen Soto, expressed her grief in court, calling the incident unjust. Duran has chosen to have Judge Guy Mitchell, rather than a jury, decide his case.

(UPDATED April 9, 2026 23:11 UTC)

Thousands of officers have signed an online petition urging that Erik Duran be spared prison time, according to the Sergeants Benevolent Association, despite Prosecutor Joseph Bianco stating that Duran “recklessly caused Duprey’s death” while on duty and attempted to cover up his actions. Duran was dismissed from the NYPD following his conviction in February 20th26, and Duprey, who was 30 years old and worked as a delivery driver with three young children, was remembered by his mother in court as she expressed her profound grief. Judge Guy Mitchell rejected Duran’s defense, asserting that he believed Duran was upset that Duprey was getting away, even as Duran testified that he tried to help Duprey immediately after the crash.

(UPDATED April 9, 2026 21:12 UTC)

In a courtroom appearance, Sgt. Duran expressed deep remorse for the death of Eric Duprey, stating, “I took this job to save lives” and emphasizing that he never wanted the tragic incident to occur. However, Judge Guy Mitchell rejected Duran's defense, asserting that the officer was upset that Duprey was escaping and indicated that the prison sentence would act as a deterrent for other police officers. Prosecutor Joseph Bianco accused Duran of recklessly causing Duprey's death while on duty and attempting to cover up his actions, while Duran claimed he made a “split-second decision” to protect his fellow officers from what he believed was an imminent crash.

(UPDATED April 9, 2026 17:22 UTC)

Erik Duran, a former New York City police sergeant, was sentenced to three to nine years in prison for manslaughter after throwing a picnic cooler at Eric Duprey, causing Duprey to crash his motorized scooter and sustain fatal head injuries. The incident occurred August 23rdrd, 2023, in the Bronx, and Duran was convicted in February 20th26, with sentencing taking place on Tuesday. Prosecutors argued that Duran acted recklessly, as surveillance footage showed the moment Duprey was struck by the cooler, leading to his tragic death almost instantly after the crash.