Global InformationKilling of Elijah McClain information
| Killing of Elijah McClain | |
|---|---|
 Elijah McClain in an undated photo | |
| Location | Aurora, Colorado, U.S. |
| Date | August 24, 2019 |
Attack type | Manslaughter by unlawful administration of drugs, assault, police brutality |
| Weapon | Illegal[1] 500 mg injection of ketamine |
| Victim | Elijah Jovan McClain, aged 23 (died 6 days later) |
| Perpetrators |
|
| Accused |
|
| Trial | Roedema and Rosenblatt: September to October 2023 Woodyard: November 2023 Cooper and Cichuniec: December 2023 |
| Verdict | Roedema, Cooper, Cichuniec: Guilty on the lesser included offense of negligent homicide Roedema: Guilty of third-degree assault Rosenblatt and Woodyard: Not guilty on all counts Cooper: Not guilty on two counts of second-degree assault Cichuniec: Guilty of second-degree assault causing death, not guilty of second-degree assault with intent to cause bodily harm |
| Convictions | Roedema: Criminally negligent homicide, third-degree assault Cooper: Criminally negligent homicide Cichuniec: Criminally negligent homicide, second-degree assault causing death |
| Charges | Manslaughter
Rosenblatt, Cooper, Cichuniec:
|
| Sentence | Cichuniec: 5 years in prison Roedema: 1 year and 2 months in jail Cooper: 4 years probation, 100 hours community service |
| Litigation | Civil rights lawsuit resulting in $15 million settlement[4] |
Elijah Jovan McClain (February 25, 1996 – August 30, 2019) was a 23-year-old American Black man from Aurora, Colorado, who was killed as a result of being illegally[1] injected with 500 mg of ketamine by paramedics after being forcibly detained by police officers. He went into cardiac arrest and died six days later in the hospital. He had been walking home from a convenience store. Three police officers and two paramedics were charged with his death. Both paramedics and one of the officers were convicted of negligent homicide. The other two officers were acquitted of all charges.
On August 24, 2019, three Aurora Police officers confronted McClain after responding to a call by an Aurora civilian about an unarmed person wearing a ski mask that looked "sketchy".[5][6] The three police officers who were involved in the incident (Nathan Woodyard, Jason Rosenblatt, and Randy Roedema)[7] all said that their body cameras were knocked off during a struggle with McClain. McClain was forcibly held to the ground with his hands cuffed behind his back, after which Woodyard twice applied a choke hold. Upon arrival paramedics Jeremy Cooper and Peter Cichuniec administered ketamine, later determined to be in excess of a therapeutic dosage, to McClain to sedate him.[8][6] While on scene McClain went into cardiac arrest. Three days after arriving at the hospital, he was declared brain dead, and was removed from life support on August 30.[9]
McClain's initial autopsy was inconclusive and the cause of death was listed as undetermined. Aurora Police officers met with the coroner before his announcement, and police investigators were also present during the autopsy.[10] As a result of a lawsuit by several news agencies, an amended autopsy report was released in September 2022 that listed the cause of death as "complications of ketamine administration following forcible restraint".[11]
On June 24, 2020, after massive protests in Denver and Aurora and lawmakers' requests for a new, third-party investigation into McClain's death,[12] Colorado Governor Jared Polis announced his administration would reexamine the case.[13] Five days later, photos were discovered that were taken in October 2019 at the site where McClain was assaulted and killed. The photos showed officers posing inappropriately and reenacting the carotid restraint used on McClain. One officer, Jaron Jones, resigned and three (Erica Marrero, Kyle Dittrich, and Jason Rosenblatt) were fired.[14]
In February 2021, an investigative report ordered by the City Council was released. The report said that the police officers involved in McClain's death did not have the legal basis to stop, restrain, or frisk him. The report questioned the police officers' statements, criticized the medical responders' decision to inject McClain with a sedative, and admonished the police department for failing to do a serious questioning of the officers following McClain's death.[15] In September 2021, the three police officers (Woodyard, Rosenblatt, and Roedema) and two paramedics (Cooper and Cichuniec) were arrested and charged through a Colorado grand jury with manslaughter and other lesser charges for the death of Elijah McClain.[6][16][17]
On October 12, 2023, Roedema was found guilty on charges of criminally negligent homicide and assault, while Rosenblatt was acquitted of all charges against him, including reckless manslaughter and assault.[18] Roedema was sentenced on January 5, 2024, by District Judge Mark Warner to 14 months at the Adams County Jail in Brighton, Colorado, with the possibility of work-release, plus 200 hours of community service.[19]
The trial of Nathan Woodyard began on Tuesday, October 17.[20] Woodyard was found not guilty on Monday, November 6.[21] The trial of paramedics Jeremy Cooper and Peter Cichuniec began on November 29.[22]
On December 22, 2023, the two paramedics involved in McClain's death were found guilty of negligent homicide by a Colorado jury, which found that Peter Cichuniec's unlawful administration of drugs to McClain was a key factor in causing his death.[1]
On March 1, 2024, Cichuniec was given the mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison,[23] while Cooper faces up to six years in prison.[24]
On April 26, 2024, Cooper was sentenced to four years of probation.[25]
- ^ a b c Sarles, Jesse (December 22, 2023). "Elijah McClain death: Paramedics who injected Colorado Black man with ketamine found guilty - CBS Colorado". CBS News.com. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
- ^ "Officers, paramedics charged in Elijah McClain's 2019 death". ABC News. Archived from the original on September 1, 2021. Retrieved September 1, 2021.
- ^ "Officers, paramedics charged in Elijah McClain's 2019 death". September 2021. Archived from the original on September 1, 2021. Retrieved September 1, 2021.
- ^ "Aurora, Colorado, to pay $15 million to Elijah McClain's family to settle lawsuit over his 2019 death at the hands of police". CNN. November 20, 2021. Archived from the original on November 20, 2021. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
- ^ "Elijah McClain Killing 911 Call & Police Body Cam Footage Transcript". Rev. August 25, 2019. Archived from the original on July 4, 2020. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
- ^ a b c Chan, Stella; Levenson, Eric (September 1, 2021). "Grand jury indicts police officers and paramedics in 2019 death of Elijah McClain". CNN. Archived from the original on September 1, 2021. Retrieved September 1, 2021.
- ^ Snowdon, Quincy (November 24, 2019). "Adams County DA: No criminal charges against Aurora police, medics in death of Elijah McClain". Sentinel Colorado. Archived from the original on June 24, 2020. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
- ^ Niebert, Patty; Peipert, Thomas (June 25, 2020). "Colorado reopens inquiry into 2019 death of Elijah McClain, a Black man put into chokehold by police". Chicago Tribune. Associated Press. Archived from the original on August 1, 2020. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
- ^ Elise Schmelzer (August 30, 2019). "Aurora man to be taken off life support after confrontation with police left him brain dead". The Denver Post. Archived from the original on June 24, 2020. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
- ^ Sherry, Allison (August 19, 2020). "The Adams County Coroner Met With Aurora Police Before Elijah McClain's Cause Of Death Was Determined". Colorado Public Radio. Archived from the original on September 2, 2021. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
- ^ Alfonseca, Kiara (September 24, 2022). "Amended Elijah McClain autopsy report released". ABC News. Archived from the original on September 23, 2022. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Sentinel Colorado 2020-06-11was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Colorado governor's office to examine case of Black man who died in police custody after millions demand justice". CNN. June 25, 2020. Archived from the original on June 25, 2020. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
:0was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Elijah McClain's mother relieved he 'is no longer labeled a suspect' after investigation into officers' actions". CNN. February 22, 2021. Archived from the original on February 23, 2021. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- ^ Healy, Jack (September 1, 2021). "Three Officers and Two Paramedics Are Charged in Elijah McClain's Death". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on September 1, 2021. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
- ^ "Elijah McClain: Five officials charged in black man's death". BBC News. September 1, 2021. Archived from the original on September 1, 2021. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
- ^ Babineau, Andi; Levenson, Eric; Tucker, Emma (October 12, 2023). "One officer who arrested Elijah McClain convicted of criminally negligent homicide; second officer acquitted". CNN. Archived from the original on October 12, 2023. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
- ^ Bradbury, Shelly (January 5, 2024). "Only Aurora police officer convicted in Elijah McClain's death receives 14-month jail sentence: Judge sentences Randy Roedema to jail and 4 years or probation in connection with 2019 death". The Denver Post. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
- ^ "Opening statements in Nathan Woodyard trial related to Elijah McClain's death to begin Tuesday - CBS Colorado". www.cbsnews.com. October 16, 2023. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
- ^ "2nd police officer acquitted in death of Elijah McClain, who was put in a neck hold, given ketamine". The Independent. November 6, 2023. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
- ^ Slevin, Colleen; Brown, Matthew (November 29, 2023). "Prosecutors say paramedics ignored Elijah McClain's distress after stop and killed him with overdose". The Associated Press. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
- ^ McRae, Jennifer; Erblat, Austen (March 1, 2024). "Former Colorado paramedic sentenced to 5 years after conviction in death of Elijah McClain - CBS Colorado". www.cbsnews.com.
- ^ "Former Aurora officer faces sentencing for role in deadly struggle with Elijah McClain". KUSA.com. January 2, 2024.
- ^ Alfonseca, Kiara. "Paramedic sentenced to 4 years probation in connection with Elijah McClain's death". ABC News. Retrieved April 26, 2024.