Eric Duprey’s death is ruled a homicide after undercover cop threw a COOLER at him as he tried to flee a drug bust in New York CityEric Duprey died after he lost control of his scooter and crashed into a parked Jeep on WednesdayNYPD Sergeant Erik Duran has been suspended while cops investigate his involvement in the fatal incident Duran allegedly threw a cooler at Duprey who was trying to escape his drug bust in the Bronx By Aneeta Bhole and Shawn Cohen and Claudia Aoraha For Dailymail.Com Updated: 01:03 EDT, 26 August 2023
A man who evaded capture during a drug operation in the Bronx, New York City, by fleeing on a scooter and subsequently crashing after an undercover police officer threw a cooler at him, has had his death officially ruled as a homicide. The incident unfolded when Eric Duprey, 30, sold drugs to an undercover NYPD Sergeant named Erik Duran, who was conducting a buy-and-bust operation as part of the Bronx Narcotics Division. When Duran attempted to apprehend Duprey on Aqueduct Avenue, the latter swiftly attempted to escape on his scooter around 5:20 pm.
In a bid to stop Duprey, Duran seized a cooler from a bystander on the street, who was present with his family. Duran hurled the cooler at Duprey’s direction, leading to a fatal impact. The cooler, filled with soda cans, struck Duprey, causing him to lose control of his scooter and collide with a parked Jeep. Eric Duprey succumbed to ‘blunt force injuries of the head’, as confirmed by a spokesperson from the city medical examiner’s office. Tragically, Duprey was pronounced dead at the scene. In light of this incident, Sergeant Erik Duran has been suspended from duty without pay, pending an investigation.
The New York State Attorney General’s Office is leading the inquiry into the matter, aided by the New York City Police Department’s Force Investigation Division. The NYPD is dedicated to conducting a comprehensive and transparent investigation to ascertain the facts of the incident and take appropriate actions based on the findings.
The use of the cooler as a weapon has drawn criticism, with witnesses sharing their observations of the incident. An individual whose cooler was used in the event noted that Duprey was on a motorcycle and tried to escape when the police pursued him. The officer then used the cooler, loaded with beverage containers, to strike Duprey. Witnesses expressed shock at the situation, particularly the children who were present and witnessed the events.
Criticism has also arisen regarding the choice of force used in this situation. Duprey’s stepfather, Jose Colon, questioned why the officer didn’t employ authorized equipment like a Taser, instead resorting to using a cooler. Duprey’s family is left traumatized by the incident, with his wife, Orlyanis Velez, expressing fear and a lack of information about the events. Duprey’s sister, Erika Duprey Soto, expressed disbelief at the officer’s actions, emphasizing that her brother used the same scooter for his work as a delivery person.
Sergeant Erik Duran, the officer involved, joined the police force in 2010 and has faced 17 accusations of misconduct over his career, though only one was substantiated. He has made 197 arrests during his tenure at the NYPD. The use of force in this incident has sparked concerns, as it appears to deviate from established guidelines, leading to his suspension without pay while the investigation unfolds.
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