New York police officer charged in cooler throw death says he was trying to protect colleagues
February 3, 2026
A New York City police sergeant who hurled a plastic cooler at a man fleeing officers on a motorized scooter, causing a crash that killed the driver, says he was trying to protect other officers from being injured. Testifying Monday at his manslaughter trial, Erik Duran said he wasn’t trying to injure Eric Duprey, when he threw the cooler full of ice, water and sodas in August 2023. Authorities have said Duprey had just sold drugs to an undercover officer when he tried to drive off. Duprey, who wasn’t wearing a helmet, lost control of his scooter and crashed into a tree before falling to the pavement. He suffered fatal head injuries and died almost instantaneously.