New York City police officer convicted of manslaughter in cooler throwing death

A New York City police officer has been convicted of manslaughter after he tossed a picnic cooler filled with drinks at a fleeing suspect, causing him to fatally crash his motorized scooter. Judge Guy Mitchell handed down the guilty verdict to Erik Duran on Friday in Bronx criminal court. The police sergeant had also faced an assault charge in the 2023 death of Eric Duprey, but Mitchell dismissed the count earlier. Authorities say the 30-year-old Duprey sold drugs to an undercover officer and then fled, prompting Duran to hurl a full cooler at him. Duran faces up to 15 years in prison and will be sentenced on March 19.