Verdict in Bronx death
An New York City jury has convicted N.Y.P.D. Sergeant Erik Duran of second-degree manslaughter in the death of a man in the Bronx, The New York Times reported.
The conviction stems from an incident in which prosecutors said Duran threw a cooler at the man. The man later died.
Rare conviction for an on-duty killing
According to the report, the verdict makes Duran the first New York City police officer in 10 years to be found guilty of killing a civilian while on duty.
The case drew attention because criminal convictions of on-duty officers in New York City are uncommon, and because the charge of second-degree manslaughter reflects a finding that the killing was unlawful under state law.
What the charge means
Second-degree manslaughter is a serious felony in New York. The jury’s decision indicates it accepted the prosecution’s argument that the officer’s actions led to the death, even though the charge does not require proof of intent to kill.
The New York Times report identified the convicted officer as a sergeant, a supervisory rank within the department.
Next steps
The verdict concludes the trial phase of the case. Sentencing is expected to follow under New York court procedure.
The N.Y.P.D. and city officials were not quoted in the provided source details, and additional information on departmental discipline or administrative action was not included.