Ahead of the sentencing of now former NYPD Sgt. Erik Duran, 38, on the charge of the [involuntary] manslaughter of Eric Duprey, 30, amid a drug sting operation in Fordham Manor in August 2023, Black Lives Matter of Greater New York held a press conference on Tuesday, April 7, outside Bronx Borough Hall in the Concourse section of The Bronx, and called on various Bronx elected officials to voice their opinion on the case.

 

Among other demands, they specifically requested that the politicians each send a letter to the presiding judge in the case and request a minimum sentence of 15 years for Duran.

 

As reported, on Friday, Feb. 6, New York Attorney General Letitia James announced the conviction of Duran, of Putnam County, on the charge of manslaughter in the second degree in relation to Duprey’s death, following a bench trial (meaning no jury) before Judge Guy Mitchell at Bronx Criminal Court.

BLACK LIVES MATTER holds a press conference outside Bronx Borough Hall in the Concourse section of The Bronx before visiting the Office of the Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson April 7, 2026 to ask her views on the upcoming sentencing of Sgt Eric Duran. V4 Video by Síle Moloney

According to the NYPD and prosecutors with the Office of the Attorney General’s Office of Special Investigation, and as previously reported, on Aug. 23, 2023, Duran, working undercover as part of an NYPD’s buy-and-bust drug operation or Narcotics Borough Bronx (NBBX) Tactical Response Unit,  threw a picnic cooler at Duprey at 2505 Aqueduct Avenue in Fordham Manor, as Duprey was trying to escape the sting on a scooter, knocking him to the ground. He incurred head and other injuries and died.

 

In January 2024, as reported, James announced manslaughter charges had been brought against Duran in the context of the fatal water cooler throw, having opened an investigation into the case in September 2023.

 

A video, also released in September 2023 by the AG’s office, as reported, shows Duprey falling from his vehicle after he was struck with the cooler and crashing onto the street. In a statement following Duprey’s death, the NYPD said, in part, “The NYPD is committed to ensuring there will be a full, thorough, and transparent investigation of this incident to determine the facts and to take the appropriate steps forward.”

BLACK LIVES MATTER holds a press conference outside Bronx Borough Hall in the Concourse section of The Bronx before visiting the Office of the Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson April 7, 2026 to ask her views on the upcoming sentencing of Sgt Eric Duran. V5 Video by Síle Moloney

Hawk Newsome and his sister, Chivone Newsome, who previously ran unsuccessfully for Congress in New York’s 15th congressional district, both cofounders of Black Lives Matter of Greater New York, were joined by community organizers, Relly Rebel and Tanesha Grant, at the press conference outside Bronx Borough Hall on Tuesday, and later entered the building, which houses the Office of Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, asking to speak with her. Videos of their remarks at the press conference and inside Gibson’s office are attached.

 

Ahead of the press conference, in a circulated press release, BLM had said its “coalition of community organizers would launch a high-pressure ‘No More Silence’ mobilization across The Bronx and Harlem […] demanding that Bronx leadership and key members of the City Council’s Black, Latino, and Asian Caucus break their silence and formally call for the maximum sentence of 15 years for Duran.

 

“Every official on this route campaigned on the promise to be a ‘voice for the voiceless’ and [a] ‘political advocates against police brutality.'” the coalition wrote. “Yet, throughout the grueling trial of Sgt. Erik Duran, these seats were empty. Not one of these leaders stood in the courtroom to support the Duprey family. Not one has issued a formal call for the maximum sentence. Their silence while 11,000 police officers sign a petition for Duran’s leniency is a betrayal of every voter who believed their promise to protect Black and Brown lives.”

 

BLACK LIVES MATTER of Greater New York visits the Office of Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson on Tuesday, April 7, 2026 to ask for her views on the upcoming sentencing of Sgt. Eric Duran in the case of the death of Bronxite Eric Duprey in August 2023 during an NYPD drug bust operation. V1 Video by Síle Moloney

The New York Post reported on April 6 that more than 11,000 NYPD cops had signed a petition to keep Duran out of prison.

 

BLM / the coalition went on to highlight what they said were “two critical injustices,” including “the devaluation of Black Life” and “two-tiered justice.” They said, “The silence of elected officials suggests that the life of a Bronx resident is worth less than the political comfort of the police union.” They added, “Sgt. Duran has been granted the rare privilege of remaining out on bail post-conviction, a luxury almost never afforded to Black and Brown citizens convicted of manslaughter, who are typically remanded to Rikers Island immediately.”

The group said they planned to visit the office of each of the following elected officials, in addition to Gibson’s, in what they described as a mobilization to hand-deliver demands for a maximum sentence for Duran:

• Assembly Member Chantel Jackson (A.D. 79), who represents the Bronx neighborhoods of Concourse Village, Melrose, Morrisania, Claremont, Belmont, and East Tremont,
• Assemblymember Amanda Septimo (A.D. 84) representing parts of the South Bronx,
• Council Member Althea Stevens (C.D. 16), representing the Morrisania, Claremont Village-Claremont (East), Concourse-Concourse Village, Highbridge, Mount Eden-Claremont (West), Yankee Stadium-Macombs Dam Park, Claremont Park, University Heights (South)-Morris Heights, University Heights (North)-Fordham sections of The Bronx,
• Council Member Oswald Feliz (C.D. 15), representing the Fordham, East Tremont, Belmont, Bathgate, Crotona Park, Mount Eden-Claremont, Mount Hope, West Farms, Bedford Park, Allerton, and Bronx Park East sections of The Bronx,
• Councilmember Shaun Abreu (C.D. 7) representing parts of Manhattan, and who is the majority leader of the City Council, and Councilmember Elsie Encarnacion (C.D. 8), representing parts of the South Bronx and Northern Manhattan.

BLACK LIVES MATTER of Greater New York visits the Office of Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson on Tuesday, April 7, 2026 to ask for her views on the upcoming sentencing of Sgt. Eric Duran in the case of the death of Bronxite Eric Duprey in August 2023 during an NYPD drug bust operation. V2 Video by Síle Moloney

After the press conference, Norwood News asked Hawk Newsome if, to his knowledge, Duran had been in touch with Duprey’s family. Newsome said he had not. Norwood News has reached out to the NYPD in efforts to reach Duran to ask if this is the case. During a subsequent press conference outside Bronx Criminal Court on Thursday, April 9, the legal representative for Duran, said for legal reasons, he had been precluded up to a certain point from contacting Duprey’s family.

 

Meanwhile, on arrival at the borough president’s office on the third floor, the group proceeded to loudly call out Gibson for allegedly being silent on the issue of Duran’s case and, in their view, being allegedly unduly influenced by the Police Benevolent Association of the City of New York, Inc. (PBA), the NYPD’s rank and file union. Norwood News has reached out to each of the elected officials’ offices for comment. We will share any feedback we receive.

Black Lives Matter continued their campaign on Tuesday, later visiting Jackson’s office and posting the interaction online. Jackson later responded to the encounter via Instagram.

 

On Wednesday, April 8, Black Lives Matter continued their campaign on behalf of Duprey alongside his family, holding another press conference outside the Office of New York Attorney General Letitia James in Lower Manhattan.

Manslaughter in the second degree carries a maximum sentence of 5 to 15 years in prison. Mitchell set bail at $300,000 bond or $500,000 partially secured bond.

 

“I offer my sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Eric Duprey,” said James following the February conviction. “Though it cannot return Eric to his loved ones, today’s decision gives justice to his memory.”

 

In a statement released through the family’s attorney, Jonathan Roberts, Talkin, Muccigrosso & Roberts, LLP, Duprey’s family said, “A police officer used deadly force where none was warranted, and today the court held him responsible for that choice. This verdict sends a critical message that police officers are not above the law, and the family will continue pursuing their civil case to secure full accountability.”

As reported, Hawk Newsome was arrested in midtown Manhattan in September 2023 for protesting Duprey’s death without a permit.

 

Duran was sentenced to 3 to 9 years in prison on Thursday, April 9, at Bronx Criminal Court. The defense plans to appeal. More to follow.