Trending Now - Officer's Cooler Toss Leads to Fatal Crash, Judge Responds

WHO:

Gothamist - Eric Duprey was killed during a police chase.

Fox News - Erik Duran, a 38-year-old former New York City police officer, was convicted of manslaughter.

Fox News - Bronx Judge Guy Mitchell presided over the case.

Fox News - Gretchen Soto is the mother of Eric Duprey.

Fox News - Pearl Velez is the partner of Eric Duprey.

Fox News - Vincent Vallelong is the President of the Sergeants Benevolent Association (SBA).

WHAT:

Fox News - Erik Duran was sentenced to three to nine years in prison on April 9th, 2026.

Fox News - Duran was convicted of manslaughter in the death of Eric Duprey, who was 30 years old.

Fox News - Duran threw a picnic cooler packed with ice and drinks at Duprey, causing a fatal crash.

Fox News - Duran's actions resulted in Duprey losing control of his scooter, crashing into a tree, and dying almost instantly.

Fox News - Duran was the first officer sentenced to prison for an on-duty death in at least two decades.

WHERE:

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

Fox News - The sentencing took place at the Bronx County Hall of Justice.

WHEN:

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

Fox News - Duran was indicted on January 23rd, 2024.

Fox News - Duran was convicted in February 2026.

WHY:

Fox News - Duran claimed he threw the cooler to protect other officers from Duprey, who was fleeing on a motorized scooter.

Fox News - The judge stated that Duran's actions were reckless and that he was upset that Duprey was fleeing.

HOW:

Fox News - Duran threw a bystander’s cooler at Duprey as he was driving the scooter on a sidewalk toward a group of people.

Fox News - Prosecutors argued that Duran had enough time to warn others to move out of the way before throwing the cooler.

(UPDATED April 11, 2026 13:19 UTC)

Erik Duran, a 38-year-old former New York City police officer, was sentenced to three to nine years in prison on Thursday, after being convicted of manslaughter in the death of 30-year-old Eric Duprey, who was killed during a police chase in the Bronx. Duran threw a picnic cooler at Duprey while he was fleeing on a scooter, causing Duprey to crash into a tree and die almost instantly, making Duran the first officer sentenced to prison for an on-duty death in at least two decades. The judge described Duran's actions as reckless, emphasizing that he had ample time to warn bystanders before throwing the cooler.